Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the destruction of cannabis farms by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Edo State, urging the Federal Government to legalise and properly regulate cannabis cultivation in Nigeria.
Sowore made his position known in a post on X on Tuesday, following the NDLEA’s destruction of two cannabis plantations in Edo State with an estimated combined yield of 4,628.9 kilogrammes.
The activist questioned the decision to destroy the farms, arguing that Nigeria was losing potential economic opportunities at a time when many citizens were struggling with poverty.
“It is idiotic @ndlea_nigeria wake up, put on uniforms, march into farms, and set economically viable crops worth millions of dollars ablaze while your country is drowning in multidimensional poverty,” he wrote.
Sowore called on the NDLEA to abandon what he described as an outdated approach to cannabis control and instead support a regulated industry.
“Stop destroying cannabis farms. Stop wasting enormous economic opportunities in the name of a failed and outdated policy,” he added.
According to him, legalising and regulating cannabis could create opportunities for research, employment and government revenue, while allowing Nigeria to explore the plant’s medicinal and industrial uses.
“Legalize and properly regulate cannabis. Invest in research, harness its legitimate medicinal and industrial potential, create jobs, generate revenue, and build an industry Nigerians can benefit from,” Sowore said.
“You cannot burn your way out of poverty, foolish people,” he added.
The comments came after the Edo State Command of the NDLEA announced the destruction of two cannabis plantations and the arrest of 10 suspected drug traffickers in separate operations across the state.
The state NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed the operations on Monday, saying they were conducted based on credible intelligence.
According to Ofoyeju, the first plantation, situated in Ugboku, Igbanke Forest, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, covered 0.699792 hectares and had an estimated yield of 1,749.26 kilogrammes of cannabis.
A 40-year-old man, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested in connection with the farm, he said.
The second plantation covered 1.151889 hectares and was estimated to have yielded 2,879.7225 kilogrammes of cannabis. NDLEA operatives also recovered two bags containing processed cannabis sativa weighing 12.4 kilogrammes from the site.
Ofoyeju said the destruction of the plantations was carried out in accordance with an operational directive issued by the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, to dismantle illicit drug locations across the country.
The agency also reported arrests in separate operations at Oluku in Ovia North-East Local Government Area and Abuja Quarters in Oredo Local Government Area of Benin City.
At Oluku, 28-year-old Kingsley Anigala was arrested on August 14 with 25.857 kilogrammes of cannabis and 93 grammes of methamphetamine, according to the commander.
Nine other suspects were arrested at Abuja Quarters on August 13. Various illicit substances were recovered from them, including cannabis sativa, loud, tramadol, diazepam, Swinol, Danabol and methamphetamine.
Ofoyeju said all 10 suspects remained in custody as investigations continued ahead of their prosecution.