Sowore Demands Nigeria Halt Cannabis Farm Destruction

Sowore Issues Public Call to End Farm Raids

Sowore's August 18 statement targets ongoing federal enforcement actions against cannabis cultivation sites across Nigeria. The presidential candidate ran under the African Action Congress in 2023. He used social media to demand an immediate halt to farm destruction operations conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The timing coincides with renewed legislative interest in medical cannabis reform. Nigeria's House of Representatives has debated cannabis policy amendments since 2024, though no statute has advanced to final passage.

Federal Enforcement Continues Despite Reform Talks

The NDLEA has destroyed hundreds of hectares of cannabis farms in 2026 operations across southern Nigeria. Agency reports document raids in Ondo, Edo, and Delta states between January and July 2026, with no public indication that enforcement priorities have shifted.

Sowore's statement didn't cite specific raid dates or locations. The activist has advocated for cannabis decriminalization since his 2019 presidential campaign. He frames the issue as both an economic opportunity and a civil liberties matter.

Nigeria's Stalled Medical Cannabis Debate

Legislative proposals to permit medical cannabis cultivation have circulated in the National Assembly since 2020 but haven't reached a floor vote. The most recent bill, introduced in March 2024, would have allowed licensed cultivation for pharmaceutical export and domestic medical use under strict regulatory oversight.

Opposition from religious groups and conservative lawmakers has blocked progress. Nigeria's Narcotic Drugs Law, enacted in 1935 and amended in 1989, classifies cannabis as a prohibited substance with no medical exception. For background on Nigeria's cannabis policy evolution, see the CannIntel topic hub on Nigeria Cannabis Policy.

Economic Arguments Gain Traction

Proponents estimate Nigeria could generate $1.5 billion annually from regulated cannabis exports, citing West Africa's climate advantages for year-round cultivation. The African Cannabis Report, published in May 2026, identified Nigeria as the continent's largest potential producer if federal policy shifted.

Sowore has framed enforcement as economically wasteful. He argues that resources spent on farm destruction could instead fund regulatory infrastructure. No federal official has responded publicly to his August 18 statement.

What Comes Next for Nigerian Cannabis Policy

The National Assembly reconvenes in September 2026, with medical cannabis reform expected on the legislative calendar. Whether enforcement policy changes before statutory reform remains uncertain. The NDLEA operates under executive authority and doesn't require legislative approval to adjust operational priorities.

Sowore's advocacy adds public pressure but holds no direct policy lever. The next signal? Whether President Bola Tinubu's administration addresses the enforcement-versus-reform tension when the Assembly returns.