The growing rate of the cultivation of cannabis in Nigeria is becoming alarming. The more the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) bursts the illegal farms, the more daring the perpetrators get. The chairman of NDLEA, General Buba Marwa (retired) has, therefore, sought the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) to provide legitimate agricultural options for illicit drug cultivators, especially cannabis farmers.
According to a statement signed by the FMAFS Acting Director Ezeaja Ikemefuna, the move was proposed by the NDLEA Chairman during a recent courtesy visit to the agriculture minister, Abubakar Kyari.
He explained that the agency’s intensified operations across the country had led to major seizures of cannabis and other prohibited substances, reinforcing the urgency of offering alternative livelihoods to those involved in the trade.
Marwa highlighted that cannabis remained the most abused drug in Nigeria, with about 10.6 million of the nation’s 14.3 million drug users consuming it.
He said the high profitability of cannabis cultivation continued to drive illicit production, despite frequent arrests by the agency.
“As you know, cannabis is not only smoked, it is also eaten. They make soup with it. They mix it with hot drinks to produce monkey tail. They take it in all kinds of forms. Every week, we make arrests.
“And still, they keep at it, because there’s so much money in the business. And so, we sat down and reflected and felt that there’s a more permanent solution to this, especially with the growers of cannabis.
“So, we have decided to create another platform called Alternative Development, which seeks to persuade cannabis growers to change from growing cannabis, which is illicit, to something legitimate and licit.
“This will give them at least a legitimate source of income.
“They will be able to sleep with their two eyes closed. Instead of always fearing arrest by NDLEA, they will live respectable lives with their families and communities.”
Marwa revealed that the alternative development project had received the support of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
However, he stressed that incentives such as “agricultural inputs, seedlings, tractors, water supply, fertilisers, and chemicals” would be necessary to convince cannabis growers to switch to lawful farming.
He proposed the introduction of high-value crops like Artemisia annua, commonly known as sweet wormwood, which is used in malaria treatment and could potentially earn Nigeria $100bn annually.
According to him, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) had successfully conducted nationwide trials of the plant with promising results.
“With a $100bn possible income to the country, if this is fully tapped, we’ll suggest that this is probably one of the areas of pharmaceutical crops that would be given to these cannabis growers to farm in addition to other licit crops,” he said.
The NDLEA chairman also recommended integrating individuals undergoing rehabilitation in NDLEA facilities into agricultural programmes to equip them with sustainable livelihoods and reduce the risk of relapse.
In response, Kyari pledged the ministry’s commitment to the initiative, promising to provide agricultural support to both former cannabis farmers and rehabilitated drug users.
Kyari said, “I would like to express our commitment to this alternative development initiative.
“So, we should join hands, and this is the collaborative effort that President Tinubu has already mandated us to do in terms of not only achieving food security, employment, job creation, but improvement of livelihood, inclusivity of youth and women in agriculture, access to capital and credit, and so on.
“Then, on the issue of your rehab centres, we will work with you so that those being treated can get some livelihood support regarding tools and other things.
“We’re willing to partner with you on the excellent work that you’re doing.”
