‘Stop Burning Economic Opportunities’ — Sowore Urges FG To Legalise Cannabis

Human rights activist and African Action Congress, AAC, presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for destroying cannabis farms in Edo State, calling on the Federal Government to legalise and regulate cannabis in Nigeria.

In a statement via his official Facebook handle on Tuesday, Sowore described the NDLEA’s operation as “idiotic” and counterproductive amid the country’s economic challenges.

“It is idiotic for @ndlea_nigeria to 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 said.

The activist argued that destroying cannabis farms amounts to wasting economic opportunities under the guise of enforcing “failed and outdated” drug policies.

“Stop destroying cannabis farms. Stop wasting enormous economic opportunities in the name of a failed and outdated policy,” Sowore stated.

He urged the government to legalise and properly regulate cannabis cultivation, adding that the plant has significant medicinal and industrial potential.

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“Legalise 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,” he said.

“You cannot burn your way out of poverty,” Sowore added.

The NDLEA has in recent months intensified raids and destruction of cannabis farms across Edo and other states as part of its mandate to curb illicit drug cultivation in Nigeria.

Cannabis remains classified as an illegal substance under Nigerian law, although several countries have moved to legalise it for medicinal and commercial purposes.