The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has clarified that its recent remarks regarding the potential export of cannabis oil were merely expressions of opinion made during a scientific workshop and should not be construed as an official policy of the Federal Government.
In a statement released on Thursday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA said the clarification became necessary following reports suggesting that the agency had endorsed or approved the export of cannabis oil.
According to Babafemi, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), had only shared the agency’s perspective at a workshop titled “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria,” organized by the Nigerian Academy of Science in Abuja on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
Marwa was quoted as saying that while the agency is not opposed to the idea of exporting cannabis oil as a means of earning foreign exchange, it continues to oppose its local use within Nigeria due to prevailing laws and the country’s high rate of drug abuse.
“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.
Babafemi further explained that the NDLEA had commissioned a study on cannabis oil through the Nigerian Academy of Science to inform any future policy directions.
“We can only be further guided on this matter by the final recommendations of the Nigerian Academy of Science, 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,” he said.
The agency emphasized that any approval for the export of cannabis oil can only emanate from the Federal Government, reaffirming that no such authorization currently exists.
