Imagine billions of naira literally growing on Nigerian soil, if only cannabis were legalised. Former Senator and Labour Party governorship candidate, Athan Nneji Achonu, believes it is time.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday, Achonu called cannabis “green gold,” warning that while other countries are making a fortune, Nigeria is just watching. He revealed that the National Assembly is already working on a bill to regulate cannabis strictly for medicinal and industrial use.

“The global legal cannabis market is set to hit over US$100 billion this decade,” he said. “Countries like the United States, Canada, Germany, Israel, and even Lesotho and Zimbabwe are already cashing in. Nigeria has the land, climate, and manpower. Why are we waiting?”

According to Achonu, legalisation could create jobs, attract foreign investment, boost government revenues, and help patients suffering from chronic pain, epilepsy, and cancer. Basically, money for the economy and medicine for the people.

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But he did not stop at cannabis. Achonu also slammed the poor use of funds from the Federation Account and fuel subsidy removal, stressing that local governments must be held accountable. He wants INEC to conduct real local elections, so citizens actually have a voice at the grassroots level.

He praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic moves, including subsidy removal and tax reforms, but stressed that the real impact depends on how well these policies are implemented.

Achonu also called for rotational presidency across all six geopolitical zones, starting with the South-East and North-East, and supported diaspora voting, reminding everyone that Nigerians abroad remitted over US$20 billion in 2024.

On security, he backed local arms production and homegrown solutions, pointing to past collaborations between Nigerian institutions and US firms as a model to scale.

He spoke boldly and directly, presenting himself not just as a Labour Party politician but as a passionate citizen, urging Nigeria to legalise cannabis, empower local governments, and embrace inclusive reforms to unlock the country’s true potential

If Nigeria dares to legalise and regulate cannabis, this could make room for idle farmland to transform into thriving business hubs, jobs could blossom across communities, rather than the battlefield they are with the drug agency and cannabis farmers.

Anita Chinedu