CANNABIS: NDLEA disowns Akeredolu, destroys 3, 900 hectares in Ondo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has dissociated itself from alleged plans to cultivate cannabis sativa for medicinal purpose or for economic gains.

The anti-narcotics agency also said has said it has destroyed 3,900 hectares of cannabis sativa in Ondo State.

The NDLEA Chairman, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd), made the denial on Monday in statement, adding that he did not go to Thailand with Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu to learn how to grow cannabis sativa for economic gain, as being reported in some quarters.

Governor Akeredolu has been in the news for calling on the Federal Government to look the way of commercial cultivation of Cannabis as a way of diversifying the nation’s economy.
He also reportedly hinted that the state government was planning to take advantage of the commercial value of the plant to create jobs for the youth.

Read also: Akeredolu decries corruption in judiciary

But the NDLEA chairman said in the statement: “My attention has been drawn to the misinformation that the Ondo State Governor and I were in the Republic of Thailand to learn how to grow cannabis sativa for medicinal purpose or economic gain.

“This is far from the truth. At no point did I make any remark in favour of the commercial and medicinal value or monetary gain of cannabis.

“The purpose of the visit to Thailand is to understudy how the country has successfully migrated some of her citizens hitherto engaged in illicit plant cultivation to the cultivation of legitimate economic crops and other lawful businesses.

“The NDLEA under my leadership has been consistent in our opposition to legalisation and decriminalisation of cannabis.

“For example, Operation Thunderstorm undertaken by the Ondo State Command of the NDLEA destroyed 3,900.73 hectares of cannabis sativa planted in forest reserves.”

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