NDLEA SEEKS NATIONWIDE SUPPORT FOR ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME TO CURB ILLEGAL CANNABIS FARMING
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called for a nationwide collaborative effort to support a new initiative aimed at reducing illegal cannabis cultivation and strengthening affected communities across Nigeria.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), said the programme is designed to provide lawful livelihood opportunities for farmers, boost local economies, promote peace, and enhance national security.
The initiative, described as the first of its kind in Africa, was launched last week with a pilot project in three cannabis-producing communities in Ondo State. According to Marwa, the programme goes beyond crop substitution, focusing on the development of agricultural value chains, increased food production, reduced pressure on law enforcement and the justice system, and improved Nigeria’s global standing in drug control efforts.
Marwa urged federal, state, and local governments, traditional rulers, community leaders, development partners, and civil society organisations to support the programme. He also encouraged communities affected by illegal drug cultivation to embrace the initiative, adopt new farming practices, and work closely with the NDLEA to build sustainable and legal livelihoods.
The pilot phase has received strong backing from host communities, with local leaders describing the programme as a source of renewed hope and confidence in government intervention. Early indicators show that many farmers are willing to transition to legal crops, a move expected to reduce poverty, improve food security, and foster safer, more stable communities.
Highlighting the scale of cannabis cultivation and use in Nigeria, the NDLEA noted that data from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey showed that 14.4 per cent of Nigerians aged 15 to 64; approximately 14.3 million people used at least one psychoactive substance within a year, with cannabis being the most commonly used.
Field assessments also revealed that nearly 8,900 hectares of land in high-risk areas of the South-West are devoted to cannabis farming, often linked to organised supply networks serving both domestic and international markets.
Marwa expressed concern over the social and public health consequences of widespread cannabis use, especially among young people, citing long-term health complications, increased dependency, crime, and pressure on healthcare systems. He added that cannabis accounted for over 75 per cent of the 15 million kilograms of drugs seized by the NDLEA in the last five years.
The NDLEA boss expressed confidence that the alternative development programme could significantly reverse the trend if sustained support is maintained. He confirmed that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Marwa also acknowledged the support of international partners, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and several international foundations.
The launch was attended by Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, among other stakeholders.
The NDLEA disclosed plans to expand the programme nationwide, with the goal of building safer, healthier, and more productive communities across the country.
