Why NDLEA approves regulated cannabis oil export, opposes local use – Marwa

By Kingsley Omonobi

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa Rtd,  has said that the NDLEA is not averse to the controlled and regulated export of cannabis lipid to countries that tendency it, but remains opposed to its section consumption.

Speaking astatine a stakeholders’ store themed “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria,” organized by the Nigerian Academy of Science successful Abuja connected Wednesday, 8th October 2025, Marwa said the dialog connected cannabis lipid is simply a invited development.

“At NDLEA, our presumption connected cannabis lipid is simple: we invited dialogue. We judge Nigeria indispensable marque informed choices, not choices driven by half-truths, commercialized interests, oregon planetary trends.

“Cannabis lipid whitethorn person medicinal properties worthy investigating, but it besides carries wellness risks, imaginable for misuse, and implications for nationalist safety. This is wherefore it is important that scientists, aesculapian experts, policymakers, and regulators are successful the aforesaid country to bring facts to the table, scrutinize evidence, and measurement options carefully.

“Let maine guarantee you that NDLEA is not opposed to science, nor are we indifferent to innovation. What we importune connected is caution. Policy indispensable support lives, safeguard nationalist health, and strengthen—not weaken—our combat against cause abuse.

“As such, the Agency volition not beryllium averse to the thought of controlled export of cannabis lipid to overseas companies and countries that tendency it, arsenic portion of our thrust arsenic a state to heighten overseas earnings.

“After all, immoderate countries person approved the usage of cannabis lipid for therapeutic purposes portion others, including Nigeria, person not. Our concern, however, is the depletion of this merchandise successful Nigeria.

“In essence, we are not opposed to the thought of exporting the lipid to those who tendency it but specified indispensable beryllium strictly controlled, licensed and monitored by NDLEA with specified process located lone wrong export escaped zones”, helium stated.

Explaining the presumption of the Agency, the NDLEA brag said the speech is indispensable due to the fact that “we are talking astir Cannabis, which is not conscionable different plant. It is simply a substance with analyzable medical, social, and economical dimensions.

For decades, the statement has been one-sided. Advocates often item the expected benefits of cannabis oil, portion its risks and consequences are glossed over.

“This, nary uncertainty informs the determination by america astatine the NDLEA to committee an ongoing survey connected cannabis lipid by this respected apex assemblage of scientists, the Nigerian Academy of Science.”

“In a state similar Nigeria, which is already contending with a precocious load of cause abuse, it is imperative that we attack this substance with sobriety, clarity, and balance.

“Till today, overmuch of the nationalist statement highlights the imaginable therapeutic uses of cannabis lipid and the commercialized worth of its export. What astir the risks?

“Evidence shows that cannabis, including its lipid extracts, tin person adverse effects connected intelligence health, particularly among young people. The prolonged oregon uncontrolled usage of cannabis and its extracts is linked to anxiety, depression, psychosis, and cognitive impairment.

“In addition, dependence and addiction are existent concerns arsenic well. In reality, these broadside effects make further societal and economical costs for families, communities and nine astatine large.

“Another cardinal contented that we indispensable instrumentality cognizance of is that the deficiency of standardised accumulation and regularisation successful galore countries means products sold arsenic “cannabis oil” often alteration successful potency, incorporate contaminants, oregon are misused extracurricular of aesculapian supervision.

“Already, Nigeria has 1 of the highest rates of misuse of cannabis worldwide. For a state already grappling with 14.4 percent substance maltreatment prevalence complaint arsenic against the planetary mean of 5.6 percent and a staggering fig of 10.6 cardinal cannabis users based connected the past cause usage survey study of 2018, the risks associated with cannabis cannot beryllium dismissed.

“Rather, the world should punctual america that portion cannabis lipid whitethorn person aesculapian potential, its dangers are existent and indispensable beryllium addressed with beardown safeguards earlier immoderate argumentation displacement is considered.”

He stated that arsenic portion of efforts to mitigate the consequences of illicit cause cultivation and production, the Agency, arsenic the archetypal successful Africa, made the determination to present an alter...