The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has unveiled plans to transition cannabis farmers in Edo State and across the country from illicit crop cultivation to lawful commercial agriculture, including the production of cassava, yam, and maize.
The agency stated that the initiative, tagged Alternative Development, is designed to eliminate the economic drivers of cannabis cultivation by providing farmers with viable, legitimate livelihoods while bolstering national drug interdiction efforts.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, in Benin City, where he sought royal collaboration for the agency’s anti-narcotics campaign.
Marwa identified Edo as one of the focal states for cannabis farming in Nigeria, noting that the agency is implementing the novel approach to persuade cultivators to substitute illegal crops with food crops.
He explained that cannabis constitutes approximately 75 per cent of the 16 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs intercepted by the agency over the past six years, largely due to widespread domestic cultivation.
“Of the 16 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit substances that we have seized in the last six years, 75 per cent is cannabis because we cultivate it in Nigeria, and Edo State is one of the cultivating states. We have introduced alternative development as a strategic pillar through which we appeal to and persuade cannabis growers to abandon illicit cropping and plant cassava, yam, maize, and other licit crops,” Marwa stated.
The NDLEA boss noted that several farming communities have responded positively to the initiative. He observed that while cannabis often offers higher short-term financial returns, legitimate farming provides sustainable security, freeing growers from the perpetual threat of arrest, asset forfeiture, and criminal prosecution.
Marwa described the programme as the first of its kind in Africa, highlighting that it has received formal backing from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to redirect illicit crop producers toward lawful enterprise.
The NDLEA chairman, who was in Edo State on an operational assessment of the state command and to address the Nigerian Army Regimental Sergeant Majors Convention, also solicited the backing of traditional rulers to curb substance abuse.
Describing drug abuse as a critical public health crisis, Marwa revealed that over 15 million Nigerians are currently battling drug abuse—a prevalence rate nearly three times the global average.
He emphasised that curbing the epidemic demands a multi-stakeholder strategy involving religious bodies, civil society organisations, public institutions, and the media, with traditional rulers playing a frontline role in grassroots mobilisation.
“Over 15 million Nigerians are abusing drugs. This is three times the global average. It requires a whole-of-society approach. We need the traditional institutions, faith organisations, CSOs, government, and the media, because all hands must be on deck. Most importantly, we need the traditional institution,” he added.
Marwa commended Oba Ewuare II for his consistent advocacy on social issues and drug control, expressing confidence that traditional authority would significantly enhance community-level prevention and deterrence.
In his response, Oba Ewuare II lauded the NDLEA for its operational successes in tackling narcotics trafficking and substance abuse nationwide, pledging to provide ongoing counsel and support to aid the agency’s campaign.
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