Abba Ibrahim Gwale
Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje expressed his unhappiness on Monday with a proposal to legalize marijuana, also known as Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp), throughout the country.
When the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa accompanied top personnel of the agency on a courtesy visit to Kano, Ganduje voiced his thoughts. Mr. Femi Babafemi, a spokesman for the NDLEA, said in a statement that no member from the state would support such a bid in the National Assembly.
According to HotPen, the NDLEA’s visit to Kano state was part of the ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
Ganduje stated that, in addition to the Kano State Government’s anti-drug abuse and trafficking stance, the state’s primary religion, Islam, was also anti-drug misuse and trafficking.
“In the National Assembly, Kano has the most federal legislators. I can tell you that they will oppose any attempt to legalize marijuana.
He said, “We will also fulfill your demands for land and lodging for a zonal command in the state.”
Marwa had previously encouraged the governor not to endorse any attempt by some elected leaders in the country to legalize cannabis Sativa.
He claimed that the NDLEA was working hard to reduce the availability and accessibility of illicit substances in Nigeria.
Any attempt to legalize the illegal substance, according to the chairman, would be a setback to the progress gained thus far.
“It is a significant one for us with over 8,634 arrests and 2,776,000 kg of drugs worth over N100 billion seized between January and now. Furthermore, 1,630 convictions, 3,232 court cases, and almost 4,000 drug addicts counseled and treated demonstrate the success made thus far.
“We are already making significant progress in our efforts to reduce drug supply and demand.“ We are, nevertheless, certain that some of our elected leaders’ continued attempts to legalize cannabis, which is abused by over 10.6 million Nigerians, will be a setback for the country’s successes thus far.
He remarked, “This is why I beg your Excellency and Kano state not to endorse the proposal to legalize cannabis.”
Marwa cautioned landlords against allowing drug traffickers to stay in their properties.
He stated that the NDLEA would seek confiscation of any property used to store illegal substances.
The head of the NDLEA applauded the governor for mandating drug testing for public officials and anyone seeking public office in the state. He advised the governor to provide the NDLEA with 25 hectares of land in the state for barracks and property in Kano for the agency’s zonal command office.