Burning Billions of Dollars: How Nigeria Turns Green Gold to Ashes ~By Onyeani Kalu

ONN Cross River State 28.06.2025

In yet another display of policy shortsightedness, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recently destroyed 30 hectares of cannabis farmland in Cross River State. While some may celebrate this as a “victory” in the fight against drugs, others of us recognize it for what it truly is: the burning of economic potential.

At a time when Nigeria is desperately searching for alternative revenue sources, such actions raise a fundamental question: Are we still governing with 1980s logic in a 21st-century world?

Green Gold: The Global Shift

Across the globe, the narrative around cannabis has radically evolved. No longer viewed solely as a narcotic, cannabis is now a global commodity. Countries like Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and even South Africa have established thriving, regulated cannabis industries focused on medical use, industrial applications (like hemp), and economic growth.

In the United States alone, the legal cannabis market generated over $30 billion in 2023. Thousands of jobs have been created. Billions in tax revenue have been collected. Entire communities have been revitalized.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, we torch the same crop, and with it, the future of agriculture, youth employment, and rural development.

Outdated Policies, Lost Opportunities

Let’s be clear: cannabis abuse is a legitimate concern. But the problem has never been the plant itself, it’s been the lack of education, regulation, and oversight.

Imagine what could happen if the Nigerian government:

• Legalized and regulated cannabis for medical and industrial use

• Created a licensing framework for cultivation

• Taxed cannabis farms and reinvested the revenue in healthcare, education, and infrastructure

• Exported cannabis-based products to international markets

Instead of creating jobs, tax revenue, and foreign exchange, we’re burning fields and congratulating ourselves while the economy chokes.

A Nation Burning Its Own Future

It’s ironic: Nigeria, rich in land and talent, is stuck in poverty, not because we lack resources, but because we destroy the very tools that could rescue us. In the name of “war on drugs,” we are waging war on innovation, agribusiness, and global relevance.

What message are we sending to the world? That we would rather criminalize prosperity than regulate it?

Time for a Bold Shift

Cannabis, when properly managed, can become one of Nigeria’s top non-oil exports. It can empower farmers, attract foreign investment, and drive rural development. But to unlock this future, we must let go of fear-based governance and embrace evidence-based policymaking.

It’s time to stop burning what could save us.

Your Ever Well Wisher

Onyeani Kalu

Political Scientist | Custodian of Ancient Wisdom

Pro-Life Advocate | Voice of Economic Renaissance

E-Mail: Onyeanikalu@gmx.de