Human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has repeatedly called on the Nigerian government to stop destroying cannabis farms and instead consider legalising and regulating the cultivation of the plant.
Sowore has argued that Nigeria could benefit economically from cannabis by developing a regulated industry focused on medicinal and industrial uses of the crop.
He has also advocated for the export of cannabis and its derivatives, suggesting that the country could generate revenue and create employment by properly regulating the sector rather than destroying farms.
The activist’s position comes amid ongoing enforcement operations by Nigerian authorities against the cultivation and distribution of cannabis, which remains prohibited under existing Nigerian laws.
Sowore has maintained that a regulated framework could allow the government to control cultivation, ensure compliance with health and safety standards and prevent abuses associated with an unregulated market.
He has also pointed to the potential medicinal and industrial applications of cannabis as reasons for the government to reconsider its approach to the crop.
However, any move to legalise cannabis for recreational, medicinal or industrial purposes would require changes to Nigeria’s existing laws and regulatory framework.
Sowore’s repeated calls have therefore continued to fuel debate over whether Nigeria should maintain its current prohibition-based approach or explore a regulated cannabis industry similar to policies adopted in some other countries.