Sowore blasts NDLEA over cannabis farm burnings
Omoyele Sowore
Abdullateef Fowewe
Activist and 2027 presidential aspirant Omoyele Sowore has launched a scathing critique of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over its destruction of cannabis farms, calling the move “idiotic” and a waste of economic potential in a country grappling with deepening poverty.
Sowore’s comments come after the Edo State command of the NDLEA, on August 17, 2026, destroyed two cannabis plantations, seizing an estimated 4.6 tonnes (4,628 kg) of the crop.
In a statement on Tuesday, he framed the operation as a symbol of misplaced priorities, arguing that Nigeria is destroying a potentially lucrative industry instead of harnessing it.
Sowore wrote, “It is idiotic @ndlea_nigeria wake up, put on uniforms, march into farms, and set economically viable crops worth millions of dollars ablaze while your country is drowning in multidimensional poverty.”
He urged the agency to halt what he described as wasteful enforcement rooted in “a failed and outdated policy,” insisting that cannabis should not be treated solely as a drug to be eradicated.
Sowore advocated for the legalisation and strict regulation of cannabis, positioning it as a tool for job creation, revenue generation, and research into medicinal and industrial applications.
“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.”
His message concluded with a pointed rebuke, “You cannot burn your way out of poverty, foolish people!”
The post reignites debate over Nigeria’s drug policy, with proponents of reform arguing that a regulated cannabis economy could contribute significantly to national development, while hardline enforcement agencies maintain that destruction of farms is necessary to curb illicit drug production and trafficking.
