In a move to tackle the rising menace of drug abuse and illicit cultivation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has selected Ondo State as the pilot location for its Alternative Development Programme.
The announcement was made during a courtesy visit by NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa at the Government House in Akure.
Marwa painted a worrying picture of drug consumption across Nigeria, revealing that about 15 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 currently use illicit substances—a figure nearly three times the global average.
He cited data from the 2018 United Nations drug use survey, which estimated that one in seven Nigerians within this age range engages in drug use.
Highlighting the situation in Ondo, Marwa said the state has a drug prevalence rate of 17 percent, translating to roughly 400,000 users.
He compared this with Lagos State, which has a 33 percent prevalence, and Oyo State, with 24 percent.
Marwa also provided operational statistics for the agency’s activities in Ondo last year, noting that 336 individuals were arrested, 22,316 kilogrammes of illicit substances were seized, and 62 convictions were secured.
Also, more than 207,000 kilogrammes of cannabis were eradicated from farms and plantations throughout the state.
The NDLEA counselling and rehabilitation centre in Ondo reportedly treated 243 drug users in 2025 alone.
Despite these figures, Marwa acknowledged Ondo’s prominence as Nigeria’s leading cannabis producer, attributing it to the state’s favorable climate and fertile soil.
He emphasised that the NDLEA is now exploring ways to transition cannabis-growing communities to legal agricultural activities.
The Alternative Development Programme, Marwa explained, seeks to provide sustainable livelihoods for farmers previously engaged in illicit cultivation.
This includes provision of farm inputs, access to markets, community infrastructure, schools, and clinics.
Ondo was chosen for the pilot phase following over a year of community engagement, ensuring local stakeholders are fully involved.
Marwa also revealed that the Nigerian Academy of Science has been commissioned to study cannabis-extracted oil for medicinal purposes.
He stressed that any future plans for controlled cultivation or export would strictly follow scientific evidence and regulatory guidelines.
Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed the initiative, pledging full support from his administration. He described Marwa’s hands-on approach as a strong indicator of NDLEA’s commitment to tackling drug abuse and trafficking.
The governor also expressed optimism about the medicinal potential of cannabis oil and urged the NDLEA to expedite its research findings, while advocating for regulated cultivation for medical use in line with global best practices.
Ondo’s dual identity as both a leading producer of cannabis and legitimate crops like cocoa was highlighted by the governor as an opportunity to implement the Alternative Development Programme effectively.
He confirmed that the state would support the establishment of the programme’s Alternative Development Unit within the governor’s office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.
The NDLEA’s initiative represents a strategic shift from strict enforcement to a community-centered approach, combining eradication efforts with sustainable development programs to reduce drug cultivation while promoting legal agricultural alternatives.
