Is Weed Legal in Nigeria?

Recreational and medical marijuana are illegal in Nigeria. The Indian Hemp Act 1966 and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) prohibit cultivation, possession, sale, import, and export of cannabis without exception.

Section 11 of the NDLEA Act prescribes life imprisonment for importing, exporting, selling, or cultivating cannabis without lawful authority, while Section 19 provides for fifteen to twenty-five years for simple possession or use, and judges have wide discretion within that range. Despite the severity on the books, charges for small personal-use quantities are frequently negotiated down or dismissed with cautioning. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) leads enforcement and runs aggressive raid campaigns in Lagos, Ogun, Edo, and Ondo States, which are major cultivation belts. NDLEA seizures regularly exceed 1,000 hectares of destroyed crop per year.

A persistent campaign by groups such as the Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity has pushed for reform, and then-Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu publicly endorsed medicinal cannabis in 2019, but no federal legalization bill has passed. An NDLEA Act amendment bill passed by the National Assembly in 2025 was returned unsigned by President Tinubu and had not become law as of August 2026.

Last reviewed: August 6, 2026.

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