Is Hemp Legal in Nigeria?

Industrial hemp is illegal in Nigeria. The Indian Hemp Act 1966 makes no distinction between low-THC and drug-type Cannabis sativa, so cultivation of any cannabis plant is treated as a criminal offense under Section 10 of the NDLEA Act.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture has not opened a hemp pilot program, and NAFDAC has not registered hemp seed, hempseed oil, or hemp protein for retail sale. Customs admits small personal-use quantities of imported hemp food products on a discretionary basis but commercial-scale imports are routinely refused. The CBN Trade and Exchange Department lists cannabis-related items among foreign exchange restricted goods. Penalties for unlicensed cultivation are severe, with sentences of fifteen to twenty-five years under Section 19 of the NDLEA Act.

Industry advocates and academics at the University of Lagos and the University of Ibadan have proposed pilot hemp legislation as a non-psychoactive economic crop, but no bill has been signed into law.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.