NDLEA Launches Program to Reduce Illegal Cannabis Cultivation in Nigeria

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has initiated a program led by its Chairman and CEO, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), to reduce illegal cannabis cultivation in Nigeria. The program aims to support communities, boost local economies, promote peace, and strengthen national security by encouraging farmers to transition from illegal crops to legal alternatives.

The pilot project, which began in three cannabis-growing communities in Ondo State, seeks to establish a sustainable agricultural value chain and alleviate pressure on law enforcement and the justice system. The initiative has received significant support from local leaders and communities, with early results indicating a willingness among farmers to shift to legal crops, thereby reducing poverty, improving food security, and creating safer and more stable communities.

The NDLEA boss expressed confidence in the program's ability to reverse the trend of illegal drug cultivation, with support from international partners such as the UNODC and IITA.