NDLEA Launches Initiative to Replace Cannabis Farms with Lawful Crops
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has stepped up efforts to curb illicit cannabis cultivation by rolling out an alternative development programme designed to replace illegal farming with lawful and sustainable sources of livelihood for rural communities.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), called for strong national backing and sustained stakeholder support for the initiative, which he described as the first of its kind on the African continent.
Marwa said the pilot phase of the programme was launched last week in three known cannabis-growing communities — Ilu Abo, Ifon and Eleyewo in Ondo State — noting that the strategy goes beyond simple crop substitution to tackle the underlying socio-economic drivers of illicit drug cultivation.
According to him, the alternative development model focuses on strengthening rural economies through agricultural value-chain development, promoting peace and social cohesion in crime-prone areas, supporting food production and diversification, and reducing the long-term burden on law enforcement and the justice system.
“The concept goes far beyond crop substitution. Its wider benefits include strengthening rural economies, promoting peace and social cohesion, supporting national food production and agricultural diversification, and improving Nigeria’s international standing in global drug control and development cooperation,” Marwa said.
“This approach represents a win-win solution for communities, government and national security. The successful take-off of the pilot scheme in Ondo State clearly demonstrates that alternative development works when communities are engaged, supported and empowered.”
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He urged all stakeholders — including federal, state and local governments, traditional and community leaders, development partners, the private sector, civil society organisations and the media — to support and sustain the programme, while encouraging affected communities to embrace the initiative.
Marwa emphasised that the programme is a people-centred intervention aimed at uplifting communities, strengthening national security and securing Nigeria’s future.
He disclosed that more than 75 per cent of the 15 million kilograms of illicit drugs seized by the NDLEA over the past five years were cannabis, warning that enforcement alone would not be sufficient to address the scale of the problem.
“Cannabis is the most frequently used and widely available illicit drug in Nigeria. An estimated 10.6 million adults — more than one in every ten Nigerians — reported using cannabis in the past year, far outstripping the use of other drugs,” he said.
Marwa noted that the social and public health consequences include increased dependency, long-term health challenges, lost productivity, rising crime and mounting pressure on the healthcare system, particularly as many users are introduced to the drug in late adolescence.
Expressing confidence in the initiative, he said sustained national and international support would enable the programme to be expanded across the country in partnership with local and global stakeholders.
On the Ondo State pilot, Marwa said host communities and their leaders had expressed strong support, describing the programme as a dignified and lawful source of income for farmers that could reduce poverty, enhance food security and improve community stability.
He added that the NDLEA adopted the alternative development strategy after confronting the scale of cannabis cultivation and use nationwide, citing findings from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey which identified cannabis as the most widely used and cultivated illicit drug in Nigeria.
Despite sustained enforcement operations, Marwa noted that the links between illicit cultivation, rural poverty, criminal networks and insecurity continue to pose serious challenges, reinforcing the need for development-driven solutions alongside law enforcement.
By PRNigeria
