“National Assembly Working on Bill to Legalise Cannabis” — Achonu

Former senator and Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 Imo State election, Athan Nneji Achonu, has revealed that the National Assembly is drafting a bill to legalise cannabis for medicinal and economic purposes.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Achonu described cannabis as *“green gold”* and urged the federal government to support its legalisation and regulation. He argued that Nigeria is losing out on a *“multi-trillion-naira opportunity”* while other nations reap the benefits of the global cannabis industry.

“The global legal cannabis market is projected to exceed \$100 billion before the end of this decade,” Achonu said. “Countries like the United States, Canada, Germany, Israel, and even African neighbours such as Lesotho and Zimbabwe are already benefitting. Nigeria has the right climate, fertile soil, and manpower to dominate this industry.”

Achonu disclosed that during his time in the Senate, he sponsored a similar bill which failed due to stigma around cannabis use. However, he confirmed that lawmakers in the current Assembly are already considering legislation that would permit cannabis use for strictly regulated medical and industrial purposes. He argued that a regulated cannabis industry could diversify Nigeria’s economy, create jobs, attract foreign investment, boost medical research, and increase government revenue through taxation and exports. “Our farmers and entrepreneurs are ready. What we need is the political courage to create the right legal framework,” he said.

Beyond the cannabis debate, Achonu criticised the poor management of funds allocated to states and local governments, particularly proceeds from fuel subsidy removal. He called for greater accountability at the grassroots, noting that while the federal government disbursed 26.72% to states and 20.60% to local governments, many governors had failed to show measurable impact. He urged civil society groups and citizens to monitor allocations closely and, if necessary, take local government chairmen to court over mismanagement. “The only way this historic autonomy granted by the Supreme Court can be meaningful is if we hold local leaders accountable,” he stressed.

He further called for constitutional reforms to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct local government elections, saying state electoral commissions had become “mere instruments of manipulation.” While critical of governance lapses, Achonu praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for bold measures such as fuel subsidy removal, tax reforms, and Senate-backed restrictions on raw material exports. He, however, cautioned that policy execution remains Nigeria’s biggest challenge.

Achonu also renewed calls for zoning of the presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, beginning with the South-East and North-East, which have yet to produce a president since 1999. He backed diaspora voting, noting the \$20 billion remitted by Nigerians abroad in 2024 as proof of their stake in national development, and stressed the need for local arms production to address Nigeria’s security challenges.

He concluded by emphasising that his interventions were motivated not by party politics but by patriotism. “If we confront these anomalies with courage—whether through empowering local governments, legalising cannabis, or embracing inclusive reforms—we can set Nigeria on a path of stability and prosperity,” he said.