The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) have called for an evidence-based approach to guide Nigeria’s policy on cannabis and its derivatives.
NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, made the call at a stakeholders’ workshop on cannabis oil use organized by NAS on Wednesday in Abuja.
Marwa said the workshop reflected the NDLEA’s commitment to adopting science-driven strategies in addressing drug-related challenges while safeguarding public health and promoting national development.
He noted that in 2023, the agency launched the Alternative Development Project, the first of its kind in Africa, to tackle the social and economic impact of illicit drug cultivation and production.
According to him, the initiative seeks to reduce the vulnerabilities of communities drawn into drug cultivation due to poverty, hunger, unemployment, and underdevelopment.
“The project demands ethical responsibility and commitment to develop transformative policies and humanitarian responses that will end the complexities and violence associated with the war on drugs,” Marwa said.
He added that the NDLEA would continue to promote community-based interventions that focus on sensitization, skills acquisition, and empowerment as sustainable alternatives to drug cultivation.
Marwa further explained that illicit drug farming not only fuels transnational organized crime but also forces some agricultural communities to abandon food crop farming for cannabis cultivation.
“We intend to reduce these vulnerabilities, both in urban centres and rural areas, through the provision of functional mechanisms and facilities for sensitization, skills acquisition, empowerment, and positive engagements for sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
In his welcome address, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Abubakar Sambo, said several research studies had examined the various uses of cannabis and its potential side effects.
Sambo, represented by the NAS Vice President, Prof. Friday Okonofua, said the workshop aimed to reach a consensus on the contentious issue of cannabis oil use.
“At the end of the day, we will have an evidence-based consensus document that will guide decisions on how best to approach the use of cannabis in Nigeria,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NAS Study Committee on Cannabis Oil Use, Prof. Musbau Akanbi, commended the NDLEA for its proactive collaboration with the Academy to ensure that Nigeria’s policies are guided by scientific evidence.
“As we all know, cannabis oil is extracted from the cannabis plant, and legalizing’s its use could translate into large-scale cultivation of the weed itself,” Akanbi explained.
He said the NAS study committee had reviewed extensive literature on the subject from around the world and organised the workshop to bring together experts and stakeholders for evidence-based discussions.
“Experts from various related fields are here to present findings that will be collated to assist the NDLEA in carrying out its responsibilities with scientific backing,” he added.
In his remarks, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State said the workshop offered Nigeria an opportunity to move “from debate to design, and from potential to policy.”
Aiyedatiwa, represented by Dr. Samuel Adekola, urged participants to contribute constructively to shape a model that benefits public health, the economy, and Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa.
“This is important so that together, we can craft a model that benefits not only healthcare consumers but also the Sunshine State and Nigeria at large. Let us proceed with vision, courage, and unity of purpose,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Oye Gureje, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Neurosciences, and Substance Abuse, University of Ibadan, said cumulative evidence showed that cannabis had limited medical benefits.
He, however, cautioned that widespread recreational use of cannabis could increase the risk of psychosis, impair public health, and lead to a rise in road accidents.
