Why We’re Offering Sustainable Livelihoods To Illicit Cannabis Growers – Marwa
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has said the introduction of the Alternative Development Project in Nigeria will end the long-standing confrontation between law enforcement and illicit drug producers by providing sustainable livelihoods and boosting food security in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Marwa made this known on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, at a town hall meeting in Akure, Ondo State, marking the launch of the Alternative Development Pilot Project.
The event drew national stakeholders and international partners, including Ondo State Governor Dr. Lucky Ayedatiwa, UNODC Country Representative Mr. Cheikh Toure, and representatives of global development institutions.
In his keynote address, Marwa described Alternative Development as an empowerment-driven, community-centred approach that encourages a voluntary transition from illicit drug cultivation to licit cash and food crops.
He stressed the nexus between drug trafficking, insecurity, banditry, and terrorism, noting that illicit drugs fuel criminal networks while leaving cultivating communities impoverished. He assured residents that the initiative is not a ploy for arrests but a partnership aimed at crop substitution, food security, and long-term community ownership, beginning with a pilot scheme in three Ondo communities.
Governor Ayedatiwa welcomed the initiative, pledging the full support of the Ondo State Government, including land allocation, land clearing, and provision of seeds and seedlings. He urged youths to shun drug abuse and embrace legitimate livelihoods, while traditional rulers, led by the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, also endorsed the programme and called on communities to key into the initiative.
