The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday clarified its position on the potential export of cannabis oil, emphasising that a statement made by its chairman was a contribution to a policy debate and not an indication of Federal Government approval.
The clarification follows remarks by the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), at a workshop in Abuja on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Speaking at the event organised by the Nigerian Academy of Science, Marwa had suggested that the agency was “not averse to the idea of exporting cannabis oil to other countries who desire it for the sole aim of generating foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria.”
In the statement issued Thursday by the Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA stressed that Marwa’s comment was merely an opinion expressed at the forum and should not be misinterpreted as an official policy shift.
“It is important to note that the Agency’s position was one of the many opinions canvassed by various stakeholders invited to address the workshop and should not be seen as the Federal Government’s approval of the position yet,” the statement read.
The agency reiterated that while it is open to exploring the economic potential of cannabis oil for export, it remains firm in its opposition to local use, citing existing laws and the high prevalence of drug abuse in the country.
The NDLEA also highlighted that it had commissioned the ongoing study on cannabis oil by the Nigerian Academy of Science and that future policy would be guided by the final recommendations from the academy.
“We can only be further guided on this matter by the final recommendations of NAS, which will eventually be submitted to the Federal Government as part of inputs that will be used to develop an informed policy on the subject,” the agency stated.
The clarification aims to prevent any misunderstanding that the NDLEA has unilaterally approved cannabis oil export, a decision the agency affirmed “can only be taken by the Federal Government after considering inputs from various stakeholders.”
