“As far as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) in Nigeria is concerned, cannabis remains an illicit substance. The Agency shall always canvass against its cultivation, possession, trafficking and sales, and use. And offenders will face the wrath of the law”, and, if I may add, our conviction rate is 90% successful.”
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired) made this pronouncement in Akure, Ondo State capital, while speaking as a guest speaker at a Public Lecture organized by the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi. Marwa declared Nigeria’s stance on Cannabis, just as a Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State sentenced a major drug dealer, Mike Omoarukhe, his Manager and three other workers to 75years imprisonment over possession of Cannabis.
DRUG DEALER, MIKE OMOARUKHE
They were charged to court in July by NDLEA over possession of 183.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa, and conspiracy to possess, cultivate and cultivation of 22 hectares of cannabis farms.
CANNABIS CULTIVATION
Delivering his judgement on Thursday, October 14th, Justice A.C. Obiozor sentenced the defendants to 15 years on each of the 5 counts, bringing the total years of imprisonment to 75years,which will run concurrently. The Judge however gave the convicts an option of Seven hundred thousand fine on all the counts.
In his reaction, the NDLEA Boss, Gen. Buba Marwa vowed to immediately appeal against the option of 700,000 naira fine.
NDLEA BOSS, GEN. BUBA MARWA
Marwa who had stated Nigeria’s stance of no to cannabis sativa legalization at the Akure Public Lecture said the proponents of yes, cannot have their way under the prevailing security situation in Nigeria.
He pointed out that , “Of all the known illicit substances, Cannabis sativa is the only one that is native to Nigeria and it is the most abused of all illicit drugs, and from the findings of the National drug Survey of 2018, cannabis is becoming a national albatross” , Warning that the population of Nigerians hooked on cannabis alone is more than the population of countries like Portugal, Greece or the Republic of Benin. He said as such the nation cannot afford to toy with the grim reality of the danger of legalizing cannabis .
Action Now Against Drug Abuse 
Cannabis sativa should remain an illicit drugs given the negative effects it is having on young and older Nigerians which resulted in the current insecurity in most parts of the country. Some relevant stakeholders have identified cannibis Sativa and hard drugs as the major causative factors responsible for banditry activities in the country. The only challenge I observed hampering the fight against the menace is that some leaders are indulge the hard drugs which limit the synergy and genuine commitment tackle the monster in Nigeria.
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