Lawyers seek alternative measures to curb Illicit cannabis cultivation

Some Lagos-based litigation lawyers have called for a broader approach to tackling illicit drug cultivation in Nigeria, urging the government to provide financial support and alternative livelihood opportunities for cannabis farmers.

The lawyers said the destruction of illegal cannabis plantations by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), though permitted by law, may not be sufficient to address the country's drug problem.

They advocated the establishment of government-funded programmes to assist illicit cannabis growers to transition into legitimate agriculture, including mixed cropping and the cultivation of alternative crops.

Mrs Vivian Ekwegh, a Lagos-based lawyer who handles drug-related cases, said government intervention was necessary to prevent cannabis growers from returning to illegal activities after their farms were destroyed.

Ekwegh argued that simply destroying illicit plantations without providing alternative sources of income could worsen the situation for affected farmers.

“I think government should consider alternative measures by empowering, encouraging and supporting cannabis farmers to go into other types of farming with their farm lands rather than destroying their farms and seizing their lands.

“This is because people tend to be recalcitrant when they have no other means of survival, so government can give them grants and support to cultivate other crops,” she said.

She, however, noted that cannabis cultivation was permitted under regulated conditions in some countries, adding that Nigeria could explore the economic potential of the plant while putting strict controls in place.

According to her, some countries have developed industries around cannabis-derived products, including medicinal products, and Nigeria could potentially generate revenue through regulated cultivation and export.

Ekwegh said the Nigerian Government had been reluctant to legalise cannabis cultivation because of concerns that the privilege could be abused in the absence of effective regulatory mechanisms.

Also speaking, Chief Benson Ndakara, a former NDLEA operative, acknowledged that the destruction of illicit cannabis plantations remained an important drug-control measure but called for stronger legal provisions and a comprehensive regulatory framework.

Ndakara said the continued destruction of plantations might not permanently solve the problem if the underlying issues surrounding cannabis cultivation and its potential lawful uses were not addressed.

He noted that some countries had adopted regulated approaches to the cultivation and processing of cannabis for economic and medical purposes.

“During my visit to London, I saw it myself. Sadly, however, we do not have that technology yet in Nigeria,” he said.

Ndakara also explained that cannabis could produce different compounds, including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which have different properties and uses.

He said CBD had been associated with certain medical applications, while products containing THC required strict medical and regulatory controls because of their psychoactive effects.

According to him, cannabis is cultivated in several parts of Nigeria and could potentially be subjected to lawful and restricted uses if the country's laws and regulatory systems were appropriately reviewed.

Another Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs Elizabeth Chiozor, identified unemployment among young people as another major factor that government must address in the fight against illicit drug cultivation and abuse.

Chiozor called for the creation of more employment opportunities to keep youths productively engaged and reduce their vulnerability to drug-related activities.

“For me, a most tactical approach in combating illicit drug plants is for government to create more job openings to keep the youths lawfully engaged.

“If you check around, it is easy to observe that many of our youths are addicted to harmful drugs and, more worrisome, is that they even know how and where to cultivate it.

“Once they are productively occupied in their respective fields of employment, it simply becomes inconvenient for them doing drugs,” she said.

While supporting the destruction of illegal drug plantations, Chiozor said the measure should be complemented with job creation, public education and other preventive strategies.

The lawyers therefore advocated a multi-pronged approach combining enforcement, economic empowerment, employment creation and stronger regulation to achieve more sustainable control of illicit drug cultivation and abuse in Nigeria