By Nkechi Eze
In a bold move to curb illicit drug cultivation and strengthen national security, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a pioneering alternative development programme aimed at uplifting rural communities while providing lawful livelihoods for farmers. The initiative, the first of its kind in Africa, was officially flagged off last week in three cannabis-growing communities in Ondo State, Ilú Abo, Ifon, and Eleyewo.
At a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged a strong national response and sustained support for the programme, describing it as a people-centred intervention designed to simultaneously promote community development, enhance national security, and secure Nigeria’s future.
Explaining the philosophy behind the alternative development strategy, Brig Gen Marwa emphasised that the approach 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, and improving Nigeria’s international standing in global drug control and development cooperation,” he said.
According to Marwa, the initiative represents a “win-win solution for communities, for government, and for national security.” He expressed optimism about the pilot scheme’s successful take-off in Ondo State, highlighting the overwhelming acceptance and support from local communities and their traditional and community leaders. “They have openly stated that this programme has renewed their hope in Nigeria and restored confidence in government,” he noted.
The NDLEA boss called on all stakeholders including federal, state and local governments, traditional rulers, development partners, donor agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector, and agricultural value-chain actors to actively support and scale up the initiative nationwide. He also urged affected communities to embrace the model and collaborate with the NDLEA to build lawful, productive, and secure livelihoods.
Brig Gen Marwa highlighted the scope of Nigeria’s cannabis challenge, citing the 2018 National Drug Use Survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics with UNODC support, which found that an estimated 14.4 percent of Nigerians aged 15–64, roughly 14.3 million people used at least one psychoactive substance in the past year, more than twice the global prevalence. Cannabis, he said, dominates both patterns of consumption and illicit cultivation, with approximately 10.6 million adults reporting use in the past year. Field assessments show that nearly 8,900 hectares of land are under cannabis cultivation in the South West alone, often managed by organised networks supplying domestic and international markets.
Marwa painted a sobering picture of the social and public health consequences, noting long-term health risks, dependency, lost productivity, crime, and strain on the healthcare system. He revealed that over 75 percent of the 15 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs seized by NDLEA in the past five years was cannabis.
Despite the challenge, he expressed confidence that the alternative development initiative will reverse the trend if given sustained national support, emphasising its alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. He also acknowledged the support of national and international stakeholders, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development (GPDPD) in Berlin, the Mae Fah Luang Foundation in Thailand, and partner countries spanning Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
The programme also enjoyed strong backing from Ondo State Governor Dr. Lucky Ayedatiwa, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari represented at the event by Regional Director Southwest, Mrs. Alao Temitayo and other development partners committed to promoting sustainable livelihoods and community resilience.
Brig Gen Marwa concluded by reiterating that the NDLEA is fully committed to expanding the alternative development programme nationwide, noting that it is “not just a drug control initiative, but a people-centred development intervention designed to uplift communities, strengthen national security, and secure Nigeria’s future.”
This landmark initiative marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s approach to drug control, prioritising community empowerment, sustainable agriculture, and collaborative action to address the root causes of illicit cannabis cultivation while securing the nation’s social and economic future.
