General News
Lawyers seek review of cannabis plantation destruction policy
Some Lagos-based lawyers have called for a review of the approach to destroying illicit cannabis plantations, advocating alternative measures to prevent illegal drug cultivation.
The NDLEA is empowered by law to seize and destroy illicit cannabis plantations as part of efforts to prevent the cultivation and circulation of prohibited drugs.
The lawyers made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos while reacting to the effectiveness of the approach.
Mr Chris Ayiyi, Principal Partner of Ayiyi Chambers, Apapa, said cannabis cultivation could have legitimate economic applications, noting that scientific research had established various uses of the plant.
He said the major concern should be the abuse of cannabis rather than the plant itself, adding that destroying plantations might not effectively control drug abuse.
He suggested that the law should be reviewed to explore other ways of managing cannabis cultivation while preventing its illicit use.
The lawyer urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to strengthen efforts to prevent the circulation of illicit drugs.
He also called for increased public awareness campaigns on the harmful effects of drug abuse and greater awareness of penalties for drug-related offences.
Similarly, Mr Chibuikem Opara of Justification Chambers, Ikeja, said the wholesale destruction of cannabis plantations might not be in the interest of government or other stakeholders.
Opara suggested that a different approach could be considered, including converting confiscated plantations to alternative agricultural uses.
He said the approach could be similar to measures adopted in some South American countries, including Colombia and Brazil.
According to him, affected plantations could be converted to crops such as coffee.
“My opinion is that instead of cutting the head with the neck, the confiscated plants may be channelled to better pharmaceutical use but under strict supervision,” he said.
Opara, however, stressed the need for strict supervision if confiscated cannabis were to be considered for pharmaceutical purposes.
He said such an approach could help prevent illicit use while exploring legitimate applications of the plant.
Also speaking, a former operative of the NDLEA, Chief Benson Ndakara, said the agency could destroy illicit cannabis plantations as an effective approach to drug control.
He, however, said it was important to amend the law to reflect provisions for alternative uses of cannabis.
Ndakara noted that although the destruction of drug plantations was aimed at keeping illegal drugs out of circulation, cultivation could recur without appropriate legal provisions.
He also pointed out that in other countries, the law allowed cultivation of cannabis for economic reasons.
“In England, for example, it is not so; their law permits them to extract cannabis oil for human use, while the harmful aspects of the plant is destroyed or prevented from being used.
“During my visit to London, I saw it myself; Sadly, however, we do not have that technology yet in Nigeria,” he said.
He drew a distinction between two major types of cannabis oil extracts, namely Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
According to him, CBD was useful for human consumption as it interacted with the body to improve sleep and relieve pain.
He said THC, however, could only be used under strict medical control.
He noted that cannabis was grown in many parts of the country, adding that it could be put to lawful and restricted use if the law was amended.
A lawyer who litigates in drug-related offences, Mrs Vivian Ekwegh, said government should provide financial support to illicit drug growers to enable them to engage in legitimate farming.
She said idleness could lead to unruly behaviour, adding that destroying plantations without corresponding financial support could worsen the hardship faced by affected farmers.
“I think government should consider alternative measures by empowering, encouraging and supporting cannabis farmers to go into other types of farming with their farmlands rather than destroying their farms and seizing their lands.
“This is because people tend to be recalcitrant when they have no other means of survival, so, government can give them grant and support to cultivate other crops,” she said.
Ekwegh noted that cannabis planting was legal in some countries.
“Canada has beer which is made from cannabis. Nigeria can also make a lot of money through the cultivation of cannabis for exports,” she said.
She noted, however, that government had refused to legalise its cultivation as citizens were likely to abuse such privilege without strict regulations.
On her part, another Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs Elizabeth Chiozor, underscored the need to create job opportunities for the teeming youth population.
“For me, a most tactical approach in combating illicit drug plants is for government to create more job openings to keep the youths lawfully engaged.
“If you check around it is easy to observe that many of our youth are addicted to harmful drugs and more worrisome is that they even know how and where to cultivate it.
“Once they are productively occupied in their respective fields of employment, it simply becomes inconvenient for them doing drugs,” she said.
While approving the destruction of illegal drug plantations, she noted that the measure would discourage those planning to embark on such ventures.
(NAN).
General News
Panel recommends dismissal of NSCDC commandant, other officers, compensates victims’ families
By Our Reporter
The Chairman of the Independent Investigative Committee on the death of some Niger miners in the state, Jonathan Kure, has recommended that one point four billion be paid to the families of 33 victims and 44 survivors.
Speaking in Abuja while presenting the report of the committee on Tuesday, Kure said the deaths were avoidable as the victims, including 14 minors, were held in inhuman conditions.
The committee also recommended summary dismissal of the state commandant of the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and all other officers who were directly involved in the detention and eventual death of the miners.
The committee equally recommended institutional reforms for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in order to strengthen the leadership of the corps.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who received the report, promised to implement the recommendations of the committee in order to ensure justice for all affected persons.
Tunji-Ojo also directed the commandant of the Corps to immediately suspend all officers who cleaned up the detention centre in order to destroy evidence.
By Our Reporter with agency report
President Bola Tinubu has sought the approval of the Senate for a 2026–2027 supplementary external borrowing plan of $20.52 billion dollars and 1.05 billion euros.
Tinubu’s request is contained in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read at plenary on Tuesday.
Tinubu said the proposed borrowing plan would be utilised on critical sectors of the economy, including infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, water supply, security, employment generation and financial management reforms.
He said the funds would help address the country’s infrastructure deficit and bridge the financing gap required to implement critical development projects.
The president said that the projects and programmes under the plan were selected following technical and economic evaluations, with consideration on its anticipated contributions to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.
“These initiatives aim to generate employment, promote skill acquisition, foster entrepreneurship, reduce poverty and enhance food security, all of which improve the livelihood of the Nigerian child,” he said.
Tinubu said most of the projects and programmes would be implemented across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. (FCT).
He said substantial investment in infrastructure remained necessary to support economic growth and address longstanding development challenges.
“In light of the need for significant infrastructure investment in the country and the vast financial resources needed to address this gap.
“It has become essential to pursue prudent external borrowings to close the financing shortfall,” the President said.
He said the funds would primarily be channelled into critical infrastructure projects, particularly in the power, transportation and healthcare sectors.
Tinubu urged the Senate to give the borrowing plan urgent consideration, adding that approval would enable the government to meet its obligations to Nigerians through timely disbursements and effective project implementation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, said that the borrowing plan had been previously featured in the approved borrowing plan of the federal government.
He thereafter referred the request to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts for further legislative inputs with collaboration from the Committees on Appropriations and Finance.
“The borrowing plan is attached, but of course, this was even earlier approved in our budget, and also the external borrowing plan was approved as far back as 2025 to 2027,” Akpabio said. (NAN)
England captain Harry Kane has been crowned the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or winner, beating Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé to claim the prestigious individual award.
Kane received the award at the Palladium Theatre in London, United Kingdom, on Monday, becoming the first English player to win the men’s Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
The 33-year-old striker enjoyed a remarkable 2025/26 season, scoring 73 goals for club and country. His goals played a key role in helping Bayern Munich secure the German Bundesliga title and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Kane also captained England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, where the Three Lions finished with a bronze medal.
Meanwhile, Barcelona and Spain legend Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time, joining fellow Spaniard Aitana Bonmatí as the only players to have achieved the feat.
Putellas’ latest triumph further underlines her status as one of the most decorated players in women’s football.
Earlier in the ceremony, Arsenal and England forward Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Trophy in recognition of his humanitarian and charitable activities.
Saka was honoured for his charity work, which has supported surgeries for children in Nigeria and other African countries.
Full List of 2026 Ballon d’Or Winners
1- Men’s Ballon d’Or: Harry Kane
2- Women’s Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas
3- Best Young Talent of the Year: Lamine Yamal and Vicky López
4- Best Goalkeeper Trophy: Cata Coll and Unai Simón
5- Women’s Best Striker of the Year: Charlyn Corral
-6- Men’s Best Striker of the Year: Harry Kane
7- Best Men’s Coach: Luis de la Fuente
8- Best Women’s Coach: Pere Romeu
9+ Men’s Best Club: Paris Saint-Germain
10+ Women’s Club of the Year: FC Barcelona
11- Socrates Trophy: Bukayo Saka
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