—- Terrorists live in cannabis growing communities

—- Ondo records 336 arrests, 22,316kg seizures, secured 62 convictions in 2025

By Dayo Johnson Akure

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) has said that about 15 million Nigerian aged between 15 and 64 years are on drugs.

Marwa, said this during a visit to governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

He said that ” the drug use prevalence in Nigeria is unacceptably high.With about 15 million Nigerians using drugs between the ages of 15 and 64, based on the last UN drug use survey of 2018, it means one in seven Nigerians use drugs within that age bracket.

“This is nearly three times the global average. The drug use has had devastating consequences on our families and our communities.It has also promoted criminalities, as we know.

“The Boko Haram, the terrorists, the kidnappers. In fact, the kidnappers now, through intelligence, 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%. While in Lagos, it’s 33%.That’s about two million. And I must say that the governor of Lagos is working very, very hard with us in tackling this. Oil is about 24%.

“So Ondo State, the prevalence is 17%, which is approximately 400,000. Last year, 2025, the NDRDA in Ondo State Command made 336 arrests.

” They made seizures of 22,316 kilogrammes of illicit substances.They convicted 62, seized and destroyed 207,000 kilogrammes worth of cannabis in the plantations and farms.

“We have a counselling and rehab centre here. We treated 243.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.

” But of the 15,000 tonnes of illicit substances that NDRDA seized in the last five years, over 75% is cannabis.That’s our greatest challenge in the consumption of drugs in Nigeria.

” That was 70 to 75% of those who use drugs actually use cannabis. Now we are aware that there is some medicinal value in cannabis-extracted oil, cannabinoil.

“Indeed, if such oil was cultivated, extracted, and exported in a controlled environment, it could be a veritable source of foreign exchange, which is much needed funds for execution of projects.

“With this in mind, the National Drug Enforcement Agency has commissioned the foremost scientific body in Nigeria, the Nigerian Academy of Science, to conduct a study on this. Because decisions will have to be based on evidence.

“We are awaiting their final report, which report we will submit to the federal government, who will be the ultimate determining authority on this. And the International Narcotics Control Board will also be interested.

“Your Excellency, I will be sure to give you a copy when that report comes.That said, we in the NDLEA have carefully reviewed our law enforcement efforts and have decided to choose a new alternative path on this subject of cannabis cultivation.

“Instead of our constant raids, arrests, seizures, prosecution, and so on, which is our job and we are prepared to continue with it, we have decided to look for other ways to approach the problem of illicit cannabis cultivation.

“We have therefore decided in the NDLEA to enter into conversation with the cannabis growing communities and appeal to them to switch from illicit cropping of cannabis to licit crops.

“Why not substitute cannabis growing, which is illegal and against the law, especially the new law that is coming? Our Act is under amendment in the National Assembly and we are expecting its passage soon. And it has a very severe penalty for drugs, cannabis included, 15 to 25 years with no option of fine.

” So those cannabis growers that think that when arrested they may get fines, this is now out.And so why take the risk?

” We are offering an opportunity, instead of the running battle constantly between them and us, to now plant something legitimate and live in peace with their families and their communities.

” You find that the rich illicit drug farmers and financiers, they live rich lives in big cities, big mansions and so on, while the poor farmers in the rural areas are the ones they engage and pay them peanuts.

” They make sure, for the most part, that they are layered so that even the farmer does not know exactly who is his employer.And when the NDD comes, they arrest and send them to jail. And sometimes the big baron escapes, even though we have made it a policy for all drug cartels, whether it’s cannabis or cocaine or methamphetamine, heroin, to go after the barons. And in five years we have arrested and convicted 128 barons.

“In this wise, the NDLEA has established an alternative development unit right in my office, which is devoted to this new proposition. And we are not talking only of switching crops.

” We have to go beyond that to actually develop the communities to give them sustainable livelihoods.In terms of the farm inputs, roads, water, clinics, schools, already the Excellency is doing some of these things. And, of course, ready markets.

” I want to be sure of ready markets.When they grow, they want to be certain that there is a market. Again, we want these heather to cannabis communities to develop into positive, sustainable livelihoods for their families so that they can live normal lives and their children can go to school.

” In our interactions with them, they have told us, the cannabis growers, some of them, that their children, they welcome the initiative themselves and say, look, even their children don’t go to school because they are afraid that the children will be arrested.And that the children are being derided in schools because your father, this is what we know, is a criminal.

Responding, Governor Aiyedatiwa pledged the full support of his administration to the NDLEA following the launch of the agency’s Alternative Development Programme in Ondo State.

Aiyedatiwa commended Marwa for personally leading the programme rather than delegating it, describing the move as a demonstration of commitment to curbing illicit drug cultivation, production, trafficking, and consumption.

He praised the NDLEA for complementing enforcement with the initiative, which would provide farmers with alternative livelihoods.

The governor thanked the agency for selecting Ondo State as the pilot for the programme, noting statistics showing the state as the largest producer of cannabis in Nigeria.

He added that Ondo is also a major producer of legitimate agricultural products, such as cocoa, due to its vast forests, fertile soil and favourable climate. While the majority of residents are law-abiding, some still engage in illicit cultivation.

Governor Aiyedatiwa assured the NDLEA of government support, recalling past assistance with vehicles and logistics to aid enforcement.

He welcomed the suggestion to establish an Alternative Development Unit in the state, noting it could be placed under the governor’s office in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant advisers.

The Governor highlighted existing initiatives, including the “Youth on Ridges” programme, where over 5,000 hectares were cleared for cocoa cultivation to promote agriculture and job creation and the state’s “tomato revolution,” which now accounts for about 40 percent of Lagos market tomatoes.

He stressed that community engagement with traditional rulers, churches and mosques would continue to encourage behavioural change among those involved in illicit cultivation, noting that education and enforcement are necessary to achieve lasting results.

Governor Aiyedatiwa expressed interest in the medicinal use of cannabis oil, urging the NDLEA to expedite ongoing studies and share the findings with the state.

He advocated controlled cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes, citing global practices and recent approvals in other countries, noting that cannabis oil is among the most expensive oils traded globally.