By Nkechi Eze
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has pledged the support of his ministry to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its efforts to curb illicit drug production and create rehabilitation pathways for victims of substance abuse through agriculture-based interventions.
The minister gave the assurance on Thursday, 14th August 2025, during a meeting with the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), who led members of his management team to the Ministry in Abuja.
According to an official statement issued by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the visit was part of ongoing efforts by the anti-narcotics agency to secure partnerships with key federal ministries in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises food and national security.
Marwa emphasised that effective drug control is indispensable to national security, pointing out that an estimated 14.3 million Nigerians use drugs and that 10.6 million of those users abuse cannabis alone. He explained that the NDLEA has launched an Alternative Development programme to persuade cannabis growers to abandon illicit cultivation in favour of legitimate crops, noting that the initiative has already secured the endorsement of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
The NDLEA chairman added that the programme would require the Ministry of Agriculture’s support in providing cannabis farmers with inputs such as seedlings, tractors, water and fertilisers. He also proposed the cultivation of high-value licit crops including artemisia annua, used in malaria treatment and capable of yielding up to $100 billion annually as part of the alternative livelihoods being offered to the farmers.
Marwa further urged the Ministry to assist in integrating individuals who have completed rehabilitation into agricultural programmes, stating that “without a viable means of livelihood, they risk returning to the same environments that led them into drug abuse.”
Responding, Senator Kyari agreed on the linkage between drug abuse and rising criminality, and affirmed that the Federal Government’s plan for food security and job creation requires an inclusive approach that addresses underlying social challenges. He pledged the Ministry’s full collaboration with the NDLEA, both on the Alternative Development initiative and in supporting rehabilitated drug users through access to agricultural tools and programmes.
“We are committed to this alternative development initiative,” he said. “On the issue of your rehab centres, we will work with you so that those being treated can get some livelihood support in terms of tools and other inputs. We are willing to partner with you on the excellent work you are doing.”
The meeting ended with an agreement to establish a joint technical committee to work out operational details of the collaboration.
