Lagos food-safety agency partners with NDLEA on cannabis edibles

Joint Task Force Targets Unlicensed Cannabis Edibles

LASCOPA and NDLEA will conduct coordinated inspections of retail outlets, warehouses, and distribution channels to identify and seize cannabis-infused food products sold without authorization. The agencies announced the partnership at a joint press briefing in Lagos on September 12, citing rising reports of THC-laced snacks, baked goods, and beverages marketed to young consumers.

Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act makes possession and sale of cannabis federal criminal offenses carrying penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment. LASCOPA operates under Lagos State's consumer-protection statutes. It has authority to shut down food vendors and revoke business permits for health-code violations.

The agencies didn't disclose the number of complaints received or seizures to date. LASCOPA General Manager Afolabi Solebo said the task force would begin field operations within two weeks, focusing on markets in Ikeja, Lekki, and Victoria Island districts.

Federal Cannabis Prohibition Remains Unchanged

Nigeria maintains a zero-tolerance policy on recreational cannabis under the NDLEA Act and Dangerous Drugs Act, with no legal framework for THC-infused consumer products. Medical cannabis sales aren't permitted. All cannabis cultivation, processing, and distribution are prohibited outside narrow research exemptions granted by the federal Ministry of Health.

The NDLEA reported 12,306 drug-related arrests in Lagos State in 2025, though the agency doesn't publish a breakdown by substance or product type. Cannabis accounted for 38 percent of total seizures by weight nationwide in the agency's most recent annual report.

LASCOPA's mandate covers food safety, labeling accuracy, and consumer fraud—the agency has seized mislabeled supplements and adulterated beverages in prior enforcement sweeps but hasn't previously targeted cannabis products as a distinct category.

Enforcement Strategy and Penalties

Vendors found selling drug-infused food face immediate closure orders from LASCOPA and criminal referral to NDLEA for prosecution. Solebo said the task force would prioritize operators with repeat violations or evidence of sales to minors. LASCOPA can issue administrative fines up to ₦5 million and suspend business licenses for up to 12 months under Lagos State's 2014 Consumer Protection Law.

NDLEA prosecutions for cannabis possession or sale typically result in custodial sentences ranging from two to 15 years, depending on quantity and intent to distribute. The agency didn't specify whether it would pursue charges against end consumers purchasing edibles or focus enforcement on manufacturers and retailers.

For full background on this story, see the CannIntel topic hub on Nigeria cannabis enforcement.

No Regulatory Pathway for Legal Edibles

Nigeria has no pending legislation to create a regulated cannabis market. All THC-infused products remain in the illicit economy. A 2020 bill to permit medical cannabis cultivation stalled in the National Assembly after failing to advance past committee review—no similar measures have been introduced in the current legislative session.

The Lagos State House of Assembly hasn't proposed any cannabis-specific regulations. LASCOPA officials said the agency's enforcement posture aligns with federal narcotics law and will continue until the National Assembly enacts alternative policy.

Watch the next 90 days. Task-force seizure data and prosecution filings in Lagos magistrate courts will show whether the partnership shifts enforcement volume or remains symbolic coordination.