Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.) has denied making any remarks that support the commercial and medicinal value or monetary gain of cannabis during a trip to Thailand with Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
He clarified that the trip was to understudy how Thailand has successfully migrated some of her citizens hitherto engaged in illicit poppy plant cultivation to the cultivation of legitimate economic crops and other lawful businesses.
Addressing newsmen in his office on Monday, Abdallah noted that NDLEA under his leadership has been consistent in its opposition to legalisation and decriminalisation of cannabis in the country, adding that Nigeria’s position against the legalisation and decriminalisation of cannabis still remains in conformity with our laws – Cap N30 LFN 2004.”
“My attention has been drawn to the misinformation in the media that His Excellency, Executive Governor, Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu and I were on a mission to Republic of Thailand to learn how to grow cannabis sativa for medicinal purpose or economic gain.
“This is far from the truth. I wish to by this statement, categorically denounce the misleading information. At no point did I make any remark in favour of the commercial and medicinal value or monetary gain of cannabis while in Thailand.
“First and foremost, the purpose of the visit to Thailand was to understudy how the country (Thailand) has successfully migrated some of her citizens hitherto engaged in illicit poppy plant cultivation to the cultivation of legitimate economic crops and other lawful businesses,”he explained.
On the trip, the NDLEA boss explained that Thailand’s model, referred to as Sustainable Alternative Development (SAD) is the direction the entire world is heading and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.
He noted that Thailand is known widely as a success story in alternative livelihood development for building alternative income in farming coffee, tea, fruits and crafts which have helped in eradicating opium production.
“The Mae Fah Luang Foundation in Thailand which implements the Doi Tung Development Project has curbed the growth of poppy through this process. This subsequently has banished opium in Thailand. Nigeria seeks to achieve a similar feat in the eradication of cannabis.”
Abdullah recalled that in 2018, the agency and Oyo State government visited the Foundation in Thailand and the lesson learnt was already transforming the cannabis cultivation landscape in the state where the government forests used for illegal cannabis cultivation had been acquired for a chain of agricultural activities, which gainfully engages the hitherto cannabis farmers.
“For the avoidance of doubt, NDLEA under my leadership has been consistent in our opposition to legalisation and decriminalisation of cannabis. For example, Operation Thunderstorm undertaken by Ondo State Command of NDLEA destroyed 3,900.73 hectares of cannabis sativa planted in forest reserves.
“Similarly, I make bold to state that Nigeria’s staunch opposition to legalising cannabis for recreational purposes was restated at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, (CND), roundtable just recently concluded in Vienna, March this year. Not only that, Nigeria canvassed for the position that status quo ante be maintained while decisions were made by the UN to alter the Single Convention of 1961 under which cannabis falls. These decisions are yet to be made.
“Lastly, both Nigeria and Thailand still abide by that same single convention of 1961 involving cannabis. While I do not hold brief for Thailand, it is instructive to state that what research is conducted by them in order to confirm medical benefits of cannabis is done by seeds imported under their government control from Spain.
“And for the records, only 100 seedlings have been planted, still awaiting their growth, not to talk of research being conducted on them. It is inaccurate therefore to say Thailand has approved the medical use of cannabis. This fact can be verified from Thai Embassy in Nigeria,” he further explained.