Retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, Chairman/CEO of the NDLEA, has confirmed the agency’s support for the controlled export of cannabis oil to foreign markets.
Speaking at a Nigerian Academy of Science workshop in Abuja on Wednesday, October 8, Marwa emphasized that this position is separate from the NDLEA’s continued opposition to the local consumption of cannabis.
He said: “At NDLEA, our position on cannabis oil is simple: we welcome dialogue. We believe Nigeria must make informed choices, not choices driven by half-truths, commercial interests, or global trends.
“Cannabis oil may have medicinal properties worth investigating, but it also carries health risks, potential for misuse, and implications for public safety.
“This is why it is crucial that scientists, medical experts, policymakers, and regulators are in the same room to bring facts to the table, scrutinise evidence, and weigh options carefully.
“Let me assure you that NDLEA is not opposed to science, nor are we indifferent to innovation. What we insist on is caution. Policy must protect lives, safeguard public health, and strengthen—not weaken—our fight against drug abuse.
“As such, the agency will not be averse to the idea of controlled export of cannabis oil to foreign companies and countries who desire it, as part of our drive as a country to enhance foreign earnings.
“After all, some countries have approved the use of cannabis oil for therapeutic purposes while others including Nigeria have not.
“Our concern however is about its consumption in Nigeria. In essence, we are not opposed to the idea of exporting the oil to those who desire it but such must be strictly controlled, licensed and monitored by NDLEA with such process located only within export free zones.”
Explaining the position of the agency, the NDLEA boss said: “The conversation is necessary because we are talking about cannabis, which is not just another plant. It is a substance with complex medical, social, and economic dimensions.
“For decades, the debate has been one-sided. Advocates often highlight the supposed benefits of cannabis oil, while its risks and consequences are glossed over.
“This, no doubt informs the decision by us at the NDLEA to commission an ongoing study on cannabis oil by this respected apex body of scientists, the Nigerian Academy of Science.
“In a country like Nigeria, which is already contending with a high burden of drug abuse, it is imperative that we approach this matter with sobriety, clarity, and balance.
“Till today, much of the public debate highlights the potential therapeutic uses of cannabis oil and the commercial value of its export. What about the risks? Evidence shows that cannabis, including its oil extracts, can have adverse effects on mental health, especially among young people.
“The prolonged or uncontrolled use of cannabis and its extracts is linked to anxiety, depression, psychosis, and cognitive impairment. In addition, dependence and addiction are real concerns as well. In reality, these side effects create additional social and economic costs for families, communities and society at large.
“Another fundamental issue that we must take cognizance of is that the lack of standardised production and regulation in many countries means products sold as “cannabis oil” often vary in potency, contain contaminants, or are misused outside of medical supervision.”
He added: “Already, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of misuse of cannabis worldwide. For a country already grappling with 14.4% substance abuse prevalence rate as against the global average of 5.6% and a staggering figure of 10.6 million cannabis users based on the last drug use survey report of 2018, the risks associated with cannabis cannot be dismissed.
“Rather, the reality should remind us that while cannabis oil may have medical potential, its dangers are real and must be addressed with strong safeguards before any policy shift is considered.”
Marwa said as part of efforts to mitigate the consequences of illicit drug cultivation and production, the Agency had taken the decision, as the first in Africa, to introduce an alternative development project in 2023.
According to him, the Alternative Development Project demands ethical responsibility and commitment to develop transformative policies and humanitarian responses to mitigate drug-related problems and end the complexities and violence of the war on drugs in Nigeria and globally.
“In Nigeria, the Alternative Development Project will focus on reducing the vulnerabilities of ignorance, poverty, hunger, unemployment and underdevelopment that push people into illicit economies, particularly illicit drug cultivation.
“Aside from its link to transnational organised crime, illicit drug cultivation fuels national organised crime that causes agricultural states to abandon food crop cultivation for cannabis plantations in some communities across Nigeria.
“We intend to reduce these vulnerabilities both in urban centres and rural areas through the provision of functional mechanisms and facilities for sensitisation, skills acquisition, empowerment and positive engagements for sustainable livelihoods,” Marwa said.
In his welcome remarks, NAS President Prof. Abubakar Sambo, represented by NAS Vice President, Prof. Friday Okonofua, noted that numerous research studies have explored the diverse uses of cannabis and its potential side effects.
Sambo said the workshop was aimed at reaching a consensus on the contentious issue of the use of cannabis oil.
“At the end of the day, we will have evidence-based consensus work, which will be properly documented that will lead us to decide what we should be doing regarding the use of cannabis in this country.”
Chairman of NAS study committee on cannabis oil use, Prof. Musbau Akanbi commended NDLEA for being proactive and working with the Academy to obtain science driven guide for Nigeria.
“As we all know, cannabis oil is extracted from cannabis and the legalisation of the use of the oil would translate to large-scale cultivation of the weed itself.
“The Nigerian Academy of Science consequently constitutes the consensus study committee on cannabis oil debate, comprising experts in all fields that had to do with the study request.
“The committee collected a lot of literature on the subject matter from all over the world, reviewed what is happening in other lands, and decided to arrange this workshop where experts from various related fields will come together with stakeholders and present evidence that will be collated to assist NDLEA in carrying out its honest responsibility.”
Also speaking at the workshop, Dr. Samuel Adekola who represented Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, noted:” This all-important workshop will offer our great country, Nigeria, the opportunity to move from debate to design, from potential to policies.
“I urge all participants to contribute constructively so that together we can rise to craft a model that not only benefit the consumers of health, also the sunshine state and Nigeria, but also position our nation as a leader on the African continent in this emerging field.
Let us proceed with vision, with courage, and with unity of purpose.”
Prof. Oye Gureje, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre at the University of Ibadan, warned stakeholders about the dangers of widespread cannabis use during his keynote address.
While acknowledging that evidence points to “some limited medical use,” he stressed that recreational consumption is “likely to lead to increased risk of psychosis.”
Gureje added that greater public use could also “moderately affect public health” via increased issues, such as road accidents.
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