By Gabriel Ameh
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has called for a coordinated national response and sustained support for the Agency’s Alternative Development Programme aimed at reducing illicit cannabis cultivation, improving rural livelihoods, and strengthening national security.
Marwa made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, following the launch of a pilot scheme in three cannabis-growing communities in Ondo State Ilu Abo, Ifon, and Eleyewo.
He explained that the Alternative Development strategy goes beyond simple crop substitution, describing it as a people-centred intervention designed to address the root causes of illicit drug production while creating lawful economic opportunities for affected communities.
According to him, the initiative supports rural economies through agricultural value-chain development, reduces pressure on law enforcement and the justice system, promotes peace in crime-prone areas, enhances food production and diversification, and strengthens Nigeria’s global standing in drug control and development cooperation.
“This approach represents a win-win solution for communities, government, and national security. The positive response from host communities in Ondo State demonstrates that alternative development works when people are properly engaged and supported,” Marwa said.
He urged stakeholders at all levels federal and state governments, traditional rulers, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector, and the media to support the programme for nationwide expansion.
Marwa also called on communities affected by illicit cultivation to embrace the initiative, assuring them that the programme offers dignified and lawful sources of income, reduces poverty and vulnerability, improves food security, and enhances community stability.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Marwa cited data from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The survey revealed that 14.4 per cent of Nigerians aged 15–64 — about 14.3 million people used at least one psychoactive substance in the previous year, more than twice the global average.
He noted that cannabis remains the most widely used and cultivated illicit drug in Nigeria, with an estimated 10.6 million users and approximately 8,900 hectares of land under illegal cultivation, particularly in forested areas of the South West. He added that over 75 per cent of the 15 million kilograms of illicit drugs seized by the NDLEA in the past five years were cannabis.
“The social and public health implications are grave, especially for young people. We must look beyond enforcement to sustainable solutions that address the root causes of this problem,” he said.
Marwa expressed optimism that the Alternative Development Programme, which aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, would reverse the trend if supported nationwide.
He commended international and local partners supporting the initiative, including the UNODC, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development (GPDPD) in Germany, the Mae Fah Luang Foundation in Thailand, as well as several development partners across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
He also acknowledged the support of Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, represented at the event by the Regional Director, Southwest, Mrs. Alao Temitayo.
