NDLEA Launches Ondo Pilot to End Cannabis Cultivation, Urges National Support

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa, has called for a strong national response to tackle the widespread cultivation and use of cannabis, warning that the drug poses serious threats to public health and rural development.

Speaking on Tuesday at a press briefing in Abuja, Marwa introduced the alternative development programme, designed to provide legal livelihoods for communities involved in illicit cannabis farming. The pilot scheme was launched in three Ondo State communities: Ilu Abo, Ifon, and Eleyewo.

Marwa noted that Nigeria could no longer rely solely on enforcement to address the cannabis problem, pointing to data from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) with UNODC support.

“The survey shows that 14.4 percent of Nigerians aged 15–64—or about 14.3 million people—used at least one psychoactive substance last year, more than twice the global average,” he said.

“Cannabis is at the centre of this crisis. An estimated 10.6 million adults reported using it in the past year, far surpassing other drugs. Over 75 percent of the 15 million kilograms of illicit drugs seized by NDLEA in the past five years were cannabis. Imagine the harm this poses to our youths, public health, and national security,” he added.

Marwa also highlighted the scale of cultivation, particularly in the south-west. “Field assessments show nearly 8,900 hectares under cannabis farming, often hidden deep in forests. These clusters indicate organised networks supplying both domestic and international markets,” he said.

Describing the Ondo pilot as a “proof of concept,” Marwa said it demonstrates that alternative development works when communities are engaged and empowered. He urged all stakeholders—government, traditional rulers, development partners, private sector, civil society, and media—to support the initiative.

“This programme is not just about drug control; it is a people-centred development intervention aimed at uplifting communities, strengthening national security, and securing Nigeria’s future,” he said.