NDLEA Introduces Alternative Development Project to Transition Cannabis Growers to Legal Agriculture

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has unveiled an Alternative Development Pilot Project aimed at curbing illicit cannabis cultivation by offering affected communities sustainable and lawful livelihood opportunities.
The initiative was launched on Tuesday in Akure, Ondo State, during a town hall meeting attended by key national stakeholders, international development partners, traditional rulers, and community leaders.

The project seeks to replace illegal drug farming with viable food and cash crop production, while also addressing drug-related insecurity.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd), described the programme as a strategic shift from confrontation to cooperation between law enforcement agencies and farming communities involved in illicit crop cultivation.
Marwa explained that the Alternative Development Project is designed to disrupt the long-standing cycle of poverty, insecurity, and environmental degradation associated with cannabis farming, while also supporting Nigeria’s food security objectives under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, illicit drug cultivation often benefits criminal networks rather than the host communities, leaving behind degraded farmlands and social instability.
“The kingpins prosper elsewhere, while the farmers are left with poverty and insecurity,” Marwa said, stressing that the new approach prioritises empowerment over enforcement.
He further clarified that participation in the programme is entirely voluntary and limited to communities willing to abandon illegal cultivation. He assured residents that the initiative is not a ploy to arrest farmers, but a sincere effort to help them transition to lawful agricultural practices.
Marwa also noted that alternative crops such as Artemisia annua, which has both medicinal and commercial value, can yield higher income than cannabis while contributing to public health and economic growth.
Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Ayedatiwa, welcomed the pilot initiative and pledged the full support of his administration. He disclosed that the state government would provide land, seedlings, and other agricultural inputs to ensure the success of the programme.
The governor also urged youths to shun drug abuse and embrace legitimate opportunities provided through the project, describing young people as critical drivers of development.
International partners, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and several European development agencies, expressed support for the initiative, noting that it aligns with global best practices on crop substitution and sustainable livelihoods.
Traditional rulers in the state also endorsed the project. Speaking on their behalf, the Olowo of Owo Kingdom and Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, called on youths to embrace the programme, while cautioning against the social and legal consequences of drug cultivation.
The Alternative Development Pilot Project is scheduled to commence in three communities in Ondo State. Its impact will subsequently be evaluated, with recommendations to be forwarded to the Federal Government for possible nationwide expansion.