NDLEA MOVES TO CONVERT CANNABIS FARMS WITH LAWFUL CROPS
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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has increased its efforts to reduce illegal cannabis farming by introducing an alternative development program designed to provide rural communities with legal and sustainable income sources.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.)
urged for a strong national commitment and continued support for the initiative, which he stated is the first of its kind in Africa.
Marwa mentioned that the pilot phase of the program was launched last week in three cannabis–growing areas — Ilu Abo, Ifon, and Eleyewo in Ondo State — highlighting that the strategy goes beyond simply replacing illegal crops with legal ones, but also targets the underlying reasons for illicit drug cultivation.
He explained that the alternative development approach emphasizes strengthening rural economies through the development of value chains, promoting peace and social unity in areas affected by crime, supporting food production and agricultural diversification, and reducing the strain on law enforcement and the justice system.
He said, “The concept goes far beyond crop substitution. Its wider benefits include strengthening rural economies through value-chain development; reducing the burden on law enforcement and the justice system; promoting peace and social cohesion in previously crime-prone areas; supporting national food production and agricultural diversification; improving Nigeria’s international standing in global drug control and development cooperation.
“This approach represents a win-win solution — for communities, for government, and for national security. The successful take-off of the pilot scheme in Ilu Abo, Ifon, and Eleyewo in Ondo State last week clearly demonstrates that alternative development works when communities are engaged, supported, and empowered.
“We therefore call for a strong national response and sustained support from all stakeholders — across all layers of government, traditional rulers and community leaders, development partners and donor agencies, the private sector and agricultural value-chain actors, as well as civil society organisations and the media.”
He urged stakeholders at all levels to support the initiative while calling on communities affected by illicit drug cultivation to embrace the model.
“Let me reiterate that the alternative development programme is not just a drug control initiative; it is a people-centred development intervention designed to uplift communities, strengthen national security, and secure Nigeria’s future,” Marwa said.
Marwa disclosed that more than 75 per cent of the 15 million kilograms of illicit drugs seized by the agency in the past five years were cannabis, warning that continued reliance on enforcement alone would not resolve the problem.
“Just imagine the harm that quantity would have done to our youths, public health, and national security.”
The alternative development initiative can be seen as a success, as evidenced by the increase in the number of followers from 7,000 to an unspecified figure. Marwa expressed confidence that with continued national support, the initiative could reverse negative trends. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the programme nationwide in collaboration with local and international partners.
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Speaking about the Ondo pilot, Marwa noted that host communities and their leaders strongly supported the programme, describing it as a dignified and lawful source of income for farmers.
This, they said, could help reduce poverty, improve food security, and enhance community stability.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) adopted the alternative development strategy after confronting the scale of cannabis cultivation and use in the country.
Data from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey showed that cannabis remains the most widely used illicit drug in Nigeria.
Nigeria continues to face significant challenges due to the widespread cultivation of illicit crops, with millions of hectares of farmland devoted to illegal crops.
Cannabis accounts for a large portion of the drugs seized by the NDLEA in recent years.
Despite ongoing enforcement operations, the scale of cannabis cultivation and its links to rural poverty, criminal networks, and insecurity continue to challenge authorities.
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