The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has clarified that its Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), did not announce any Federal Government approval for the export of cannabis or its derivatives.
The clarification follows reports misinterpreting Marwa’s comments at a workshop organised by the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) in Abuja on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
According to the NDLEA, Marwa merely stated that the agency was not opposed to the idea of exporting cannabis oil strictly for foreign exchange purposes—provided such an initiative is regulated and does not involve local consumption, which remains illegal under Nigerian law.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stressed that Marwa’s remarks represented the agency’s opinion and not an official government policy.
“It is important to note that the agency’s position was one of many views presented at the workshop and should not be interpreted as Federal Government approval,” Babafemi explained.
He further disclosed that the NAS is currently conducting a comprehensive study on cannabis oil, commissioned by the NDLEA, to provide evidence-based recommendations that will guide government policy decisions.
“We can only be guided by the final recommendations of the Nigerian Academy of Science, which will be submitted to the Federal Government as part of the broader consultation process,” Babafemi added.
The agency emphasised that the clarification became necessary to correct public misrepresentations suggesting that cannabis oil exportation had already been approved.
The debate over legalising the cultivation and export of cannabis for medicinal and industrial use has gained momentum in recent years, with proponents arguing that it could boost Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
However, under existing laws, the cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis remain prohibited in Nigeria, and the NDLEA continues to uphold a strict stance against its recreational use.
