NDLEA Launches Landmark Programme to Replace Illicit Cannabis Farms

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has called for nationwide support for its newly launched alternative development programme, aimed at eradicating illicit cannabis cultivation by providing sustainable economic opportunities to farming communities.

The Agency’s Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), made the appeal at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday. He described the initiative, which began last week as a pilot scheme in three communities in Ondo State, as the first of its kind in Africa.

The programme, launched in Ilu Abo, Ifon, and Eleyewo communities, is designed to combat drug production at its root by offering lawful agricultural alternatives. Marwa emphasised that the strategy goes beyond simple crop substitution.

“This approach represents a win-win solution for communities, for government, and for national security,” Marwa stated. He outlined wider benefits, including strengthening rural economies, reducing pressure on law enforcement, promoting social cohesion, and improving Nigeria’s standing in global drug control.

The NDLEA boss called for a collective effort, urging support from all levels of government, traditional rulers, development partners, the private sector, and the media. He also encouraged communities involved in illicit cultivation to embrace the alternative programme.

Marwa highlighted alarming statistics to justify the new approach, citing a 2018 survey which found an estimated 10.6 million adults used cannabis. Field assessments in the South-West alone revealed nearly 8,900 hectares of land dedicated to illicit cannabis farms, suggesting organised trafficking networks.

“Just imagine the harm that quantity would have done to our youths, public health and national security,” he said, noting that cannabis constituted over 75% of all illicit drugs seized by the NDLEA in the past five years.

He expressed confidence that the alternative development plan, which has received overwhelming acceptance from the pilot communities and traditional rulers in Ondo State, can reverse this trend. The programme aligns with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to build “a safer, healthier, and more prosperous Nigeria.”

The initiative is supported by international and local partners, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Ondo State Government.