Socioeconomic context of cannabis cultivation and trafficking in selected Nigerian communities

Cannabis is one of the most widely used drugs in Nigeria. This use has been sustained, in part, by widespread cannabis cultivation and trafficking in certain parts of Nigeria, which have persisted despite the destruction of many hectares of cannabis crops by law enforcement agencies every year. The present study is aimed at exploring the socioeconomic factors that underpin the cultivation of cannabis in selected communities in Nigeria. In-depth interviews and key informant interviews were conducted in two communities in Oyo State. The pool of participants consisted of 68 respondents comprising 52 men (76.5 per cent) and 16 women (23.5 per cent). Focus group discussions were also conducted to get a deeper understanding of some of the factors at play. Results from the interviews and discussions suggest that unemployment, corruption, the relative ease of cultivation, the demand from users ready to buy and relatively higher economic returns are some of the drivers of cannabis cultivation and trafficking. The need for stakeholders to shift focus and address those salient underlying factors in order to achieve a reduction in cannabis cultivation and trafficking was emphasized.