HUMAN rights activist and presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has launched a blistering attack on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), labelling the agency “idiotic” and “foolish” for destroying cannabis farms worth millions of dollars while Nigeria grapples with staggering multidimensional poverty.
In a fiery post on his Facebook page, Sowore condemned the NDLEA’s ongoing operations to set cannabis plantations ablaze across the country, arguing that the policy is not only outdated but economically destructive.
“It is idiotic NDLEA to wake up, put on uniforms, march into farms, and set economically viable crops (marijuana) worth millions of dollars ablaze while your country is drowning in multidimensional poverty,” Sowore wrote.
The activist’s outburst comes as official statistics paint a grim picture of the nation’s economic health. The National Bureau of Statistics recently reported that a staggering 62.9 per cent of Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor, with approximately 132.93 million citizens experiencing severe deprivation in health, education, food security, and living standards.
Sowore’s criticism directly challenges the NDLEA’s enforcement-first strategy, which has seen substantial destruction of cannabis plantations in recent months. In Cross River State alone, the agency destroyed approximately eight hectares of cannabis farms in the Uyanga community between April and May 2026, while seizing over 6.5 tonnes of illicit substances.
The Delta Command also recently destroyed 36.2 hectares of suspected cannabis plantations, recovering drugs worth an estimated N450 million.
A Call for Legalisation and Regulation
Rather than destruction, Sowore advocates for a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s approach to cannabis. He called on the government to legalise and properly regulate cannabis, arguing that the country should instead harness its “legitimate medicinal and industrial potential” to create jobs and generate revenue.
“Stop destroying cannabis farms. Stop wasting enormous economic opportunities in the name of a failed and outdated policy,” Sowore insisted. “Legalize and properly regulate cannabis. Invest in research, harness its legitimate medicinal and industrial potential, create jobs, generate revenue, and build an industry Nigerians can benefit from.”
The activist’s stance aligns with growing international trends where several jurisdictions have legalised or decriminalised cannabis for medical and industrial purposes. Notably, Nigeria’s National Assembly is reportedly drafting a bill to legalise cannabis for medicinal and economic use, focusing on controlled cultivation and industrial applications rather than recreational smoking.
NDLEA Fires Back
The NDLEA has not taken the criticism lightly. Commander Tijjani Rabe of the Ogun State Command hit back at Sowore, cautioning that his calls for legalisation should be approached with care . Rabe argued that Nigeria must first strengthen its regulatory systems, laboratories, and rehabilitation centres before any such policy shift could be considered.
The agency has also pointed to its Alternative Development Project as evidence that it is seeking sustainable solutions. Launched in Ondo State, this initiative aims to replace illicit cannabis cultivation with legal, sustainable agricultural livelihoods such as food and cash crop production.
A Nation Divided
Sowore remains unyielding, describing the current enforcement approach as counterproductive. “You cannot burn your way out of poverty,” he declared, concluding his post with the sharp rebuke: “foolish people!”
The debate highlights a deepening national conversation about the intersection of drug policy, economic development, and poverty alleviation. As poverty levels continue to rise and economic opportunities remain scarce for millions of Nigerians, pressure is mounting on both policymakers and law enforcement to reconsider strategies that may be destroying potential economic assets rather than building them.
