Sowore Urges Nigeria to Legalise and Export Cannabis Instead of Destroying Farms

Former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore has renewed his call for Nigeria to reconsider its approach to cannabis, arguing that the country should regulate and commercialise the crop rather than continue destroying cannabis farms.

Sowore believes cannabis could become a significant source of economic value for Nigeria if properly regulated and developed for medicinal and industrial purposes.

Speaking during a recent podcast appearance, he argued that the plant has uses beyond recreational consumption, pointing to potential applications in medicine, clothing, construction and other industries.

According to Sowore, cannabis fibre can be used to produce clothing and building materials, while the plant also has medicinal applications that could support a legal export industry.

He has therefore called on the government to stop destroying cannabis plantations and instead establish a regulatory framework that would allow farmers and businesses to cultivate the crop legally under controlled conditions.

Sowore argued that Nigeria could generate substantial revenue from a regulated cannabis industry, particularly through exports and industrial applications.

He pointed to Canada, which legalised recreational cannabis in 2018, as an example of how the sector can develop into a significant commercial industry. His position, however, contrasts sharply with that of Nigeria’s drug enforcement authorities.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has maintained its opposition to cannabis legalisation, citing concerns over public health, drug abuse and national security. The agency says cannabis remains the most commonly abused illicit substance in Nigeria and has destroyed thousands of hectares of cannabis plantations as part of its enforcement operations.

At the same time, the debate over cannabis regulation is not limited to recreational use. Across Africa, governments are increasingly examining regulated low-THC cannabis and hemp for industrial and medicinal applications, with some countries developing frameworks to control cultivation and processing.

For Nigeria, the question remains whether cannabis should continue to be treated primarily as an illicit drug or whether a tightly regulated industry could unlock economic opportunities while addressing public-health and security concerns.