Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
NDLEA chairman, Buba Marwa
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), is calling for a nationwide, development-driven strategy to curb illegal drug cultivation, warning that enforcement alone cannot solve Nigeria’s drug challenge.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Marwa urges government agencies, host communities, development partners and the private sector to support an alternative development model that replaces illicit farming with sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative, launched as a pilot in three Ondo State communities — Ilu Abo, Ifon and Eleyewo — targets areas historically linked to cannabis cultivation. The NDLEA says it is the first structured programme of its kind on the African continent.
“This approach is not just about crop substitution,” Marwa says. “It is about stimulating rural economies, strengthening food systems and reducing pressure on law enforcement and the justice system.”
He explains that the strategy promotes legal income generation, community stability and improved security in areas affected by drug-related crime. Early feedback, according to Marwa, shows strong buy-in from traditional rulers and residents.
Nigeria’s cannabis problem, he notes, remains significant. Data from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey show more than 14 million Nigerians used psychoactive substances within a year, with cannabis the most prevalent.
“Cannabis accounts for over 75 per cent of all drugs seized by the NDLEA in the past five years,” he says, warning of serious health and security risks, particularly for young people.
Marwa expresses confidence that sustained political backing and stakeholder support could dramatically reduce illegal cultivation, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on security and agriculture.
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Mirian Gom 
Korede Abdullah 
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