NDLEA Moves to Transition Cannabis Growers into Legal Farming

News in brief:

-NDLEA is shifting from enforcement to cooperation by offering legal farming alternatives to cannabis growers.

-The pilot project targets food security, poverty reduction and reduced drug-related insecurity.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched an Alternative Development Pilot Project aimed at ending illicit cannabis cultivation by providing affected communities with sustainable and lawful livelihood options.

It was unveiled in Akure, Ondo State, during a town hall meeting attended by national stakeholders, international development partners, traditional rulers and community leaders.

Shift from Enforcement to Empowerment

Speaking at the event, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd), said the programme represents a strategic shift from confrontation to cooperation between law enforcement and farming communities previously involved in illicit crop cultivation.

Marwa said the initiative is designed to break the long-standing cycle of poverty, insecurity and environmental degradation associated with cannabis farming, while supporting Nigeria’s food security objectives under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Addressing Poverty and Insecurity

According to the agency's boss, illicit drug cultivation often benefits criminal networks rather than host communities, leaving farmers exposed to poverty, degraded land and social instability.

“The kingpins prosper elsewhere, while the farmers are left with poverty and insecurity,” he said, adding that the alternative development approach prioritises empowerment over enforcement.

He stressed that participation in the programme is voluntary and limited to communities willing to abandon illicit cultivation, assuring residents that the project is not a ploy to arrest farmers but a genuine pathway to lawful agriculture.

Profitable Alternatives to Cannabis

Marwa noted that alternative crops such as Artemisia annua, which has medicinal and commercial value, could generate higher income than cannabis while contributing to public health and economic growth.

He explained that the programme would support farmers with technical guidance and market-linked agricultural opportunities to ensure sustainability.

Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Ayedatiwa, welcomed the pilot project and pledged the full support of his administration. He said the state government would provide land, seedlings and other agricultural inputs to ensure the success of the initiative, while urging youths to reject drug abuse and embrace legitimate economic opportunities.

Ayedatiwa described young people as critical drivers of development and said the programme aligns with the state’s broader agricultural and security objectives.

International and Traditional Support

International partners, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and development agencies from Europe, expressed support for the project, noting that it aligns with global best practices on crop substitution and sustainable livelihoods.

Traditional rulers in the state also endorsed the initiative. Speaking on their behalf, the Olowo of Owo Kingdom and Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, urged youths to embrace the programme and warned against the social and legal consequences of drug cultivation.

Pilot Phase to Guide National Rollout

The Alternative Development Pilot Project will commence in three communities in Ondo State, after which its impact will be evaluated.

Findings from the pilot phase will be used to make recommendations to the Federal Government on the possible nationwide expansion of the programme.