The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, retired Maj.-Gen. Buba Marwa, on Monday, said terrorists and kidnappers now live in cannabis-growing communities.
Marwa made the statement in Akure during a courtesy visit to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State ahead of the Alternative Development Project campaign targeted at engaging illicit drug growers in the state.
He said the agency created the Alternative Development Project unit to discourage peasant farmers from growing illicit drugs, especially cannabis sativa.
According to him, the programme, which will not stop the enforcement role of the agency, is another way to combat terrorists and other criminals who now stay close to where illicit drugs are produced.
Marwa said drug use prevalence in Nigeria was unacceptably high, with about 15 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 using drugs, based on the 2018 United Nations drug use survey.
He said the figure meant that one in seven Nigerians within the age bracket use drugs, adding that the Alternative Development Project campaign would commence in Ondo State.
The NDLEA chairman said the agency had convicted 128 drug barons in the last five years and disclosed that of the 15,000 tonnes of illicit substances seized within the same period, over 75 per cent was cannabis sativa.
According to him, between 70 and 75 per cent of drug users in Nigeria consume cannabis sativa.
“The Boko Haram, the terrorists, the kidnappers — in fact, the kidnappers now, through our intelligence sources, have been shown to live among the cannabis-cultivating communities in the deep forests.
“And that makes sense to them. Why not establish a base where the drugs are readily available?
“In Ondo State, the drug use prevalence is 17 per cent, which is approximately 400,000.
“In 2025, the NDLEA in Ondo State made 336 arrests, with seizures of 22,316 kilogrammes of illicit substances, convicted 62 offenders, seized and destroyed 207,000 kilogrammes of cannabis from plantations and farms.
“We have a counselling and rehabilitation centre here; we have treated 243 people. But more significantly, Your Excellency, Ondo State is the highest producer of cannabis in Nigeria for several reasons, including the climate and the nature of the soil. It encourages this type of trade,” he said.
Marwa, who appreciated the governor for his efforts in the fight against illicit drugs, said the agency was carefully reviewing its law-enforcement strategy and had decided to adopt alternative approaches instead of constant raids and arrests.
In his remarks, Aiyedatiwa applauded Marwa for leading the initiative under his office.
Aiyedatiwa praised the NDLEA boss for his efforts and commitment toward ensuring that society is rid of illicit drugs.
“We, as government, will support you in any way that we can to ensure that we achieve the needed success. We will look into the direction of having our own alternative development programme like yours,” he said. (NAN)
