Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for destroying cannabis plantations in Edo State.
Sowore urged the Federal Government to reconsider its approach to cannabis cultivation, advocating for the legalisation and proper regulation of the plant to unlock its medicinal, industrial and economic potential.
In a post on X on Tuesday, the activist questioned the rationale behind destroying cannabis farms at a time when Nigeria is battling widespread poverty and unemployment.
He argued that rather than burning cannabis plantations, the government should establish a regulated industry that could generate employment, attract investment and increase government revenue.
Sowore said Nigeria could benefit from cannabis through scientific research and the development of legitimate medicinal and industrial applications.
His comments followed the destruction of two cannabis plantations by the NDLEA in Edo State.
The NDLEA Edo State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed on Monday that the agency had destroyed the two plantations, which had a combined estimated yield of 4,628.98 kilogrammes of cannabis.
According to him, the first plantation, located at Ugboku in the Igbanke Forest area of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, covered 0.699792 hectares and had an estimated yield of 1,749.26 kilogrammes.
A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested in connection with the plantation.
Ofoyeju said the second plantation covered 1.151889 hectares and had an estimated yield of 2,879.7225 kilogrammes. Two bags of processed cannabis weighing 12.4 kilogrammes were also recovered from the location.
The commander said the operations were conducted based on credible intelligence and in line with the directive of the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, to dismantle illicit drug production sites across the country.
In separate operations at Oluku in Ovia North-East Local Government Area and Abuja Quarters in Oredo Local Government Area of Benin City, the agency also arrested 10 suspected male drug traffickers.
Ofoyeju said 28-year-old Kingsley Anigala was arrested at Oluku on August 14 with 25.857 kilogrammes of cannabis and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.
At Abuja Quarters, nine other suspects were arrested on August 13 with various substances, including cannabis, loud, tramadol, diazepam, Swinol, Danabol and methamphetamine.
The NDLEA said all the suspects remained in custody while investigations continued ahead of possible prosecution.
Sowore, however, maintained that Nigeria should move beyond what he described as an outdated policy and explore the economic opportunities that could come from a properly regulated cannabis industry.
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