Nigeria’s ₦16 bn Cannabis Destruction Criticized as Canada’s Industry Expands

Context Nigeria maintains strict prohibition on cannabis, treating any possession or trafficking as a criminal offense. In May 2026 the Nigeria Customs Service announced it had seized and incinerated a shipment valued at more than ₦16 billion, stating the drugs originated in Canada. The agency framed the action as a victory against drug trafficking.

Global legal cannabis sales reached about $28 billion in 2024, with North America contributing more than half of that figure. Nations that have legalized medical or recreational use report steady increases in tax revenue and job creation.

Key Facts Sowore accused the government and Customs Service of celebrating the destruction, calling the policy visionless and backward. He pointed out that Canada’s legal cannabis market produces billions of dollars annually in tax income, employs tens of thousands, supports medical research and exports industrial hemp products.

Nigeria, by contrast, continues to enforce outright bans, missing potential fiscal and industrial benefits. The activist warned that as global trade shifts toward certified cannabis goods, Nigeria could find itself excluded from emerging supply chains while its own farmers remain barred from cultivation.

Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency reported over 12,000 cannabis-related arrests in 2025, with seizures totaling roughly ₦8 billion worth of plant material. The agency says these actions aim to curb abuse and protect public health.

What It Means The episode highlights the growing divide between Nigeria’s prohibitionist stance and the expanding legal cannabis economies elsewhere. If Nigeria does not revisit its drug policy, it may lose out on revenue streams and investment opportunities that other nations are capturing.

Policymakers may face pressure to consider regulated models that could generate tax revenue and create jobs.

Analysts estimate that a regulated cannabis sector in Nigeria could yield upwards of ₦5 billion annually in tax revenue if even a fraction of the current illicit market were brought under legal oversight.

What to watch next: any legislative proposals or pilot programs that explore medical or industrial cannabis use in Nigeria.