NDLEA ignores Akeredolu's advice, destroys 3,900 hectares of cannabis farm in Ondo
As evidence of its opposition to the legalisation of cannabis sativa, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed 3,900 hectares of the plant in Ondo state.
Legit.ng recalls that Governor Akeredolu, on Tuesday, May 14, said Ondo state would be shortchanging itself if the state failed to tap into the legal marijuana market.
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Below is the governor's tweet:
Chairman of NDLEA, Muhammad Abdallah, who refuted reports that he visited Thailand with Akeredolu to learn more about extracting cannabis for economic gains, made the disclosure about the destruction of the plant.
In a statement released on Monday, May 20, Abdallah said: “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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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the trip to Thailand by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo to allegedly learn how to legally grow cannabis and make revenue for the state attracted reaction from Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central).
On his Twitter page, Shehu Sani slammed the Ondo state governor, saying that he should do away with the endeavour.
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Source: Legit Newspaper