Nigeria Launches Cannabis Alternative Program

The Nigeria — National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Nigeria, led by its Chairman Mohammed Buba Marwa, has launched an alternative development program to combat illicit cannabis cultivation. This initiative, the first of its kind in Africa, began with a pilot scheme in three communities in Nigeria — Ondo State. The program aims to replace cannabis farming with sustainable agricultural and economic opportunities, thereby strengthening rural economies, promoting peace, improving food security, and reducing the burden on law enforcement. Mohammed Buba Marwa has called for strong national support from all stakeholders, including government bodies, traditional rulers, development partners like the International — United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development, and Mae Fah Luang Foundation, as well as the private sector. The program aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda and seeks to address the severe drug problem in Nigeria, where cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug and accounts for over 75% of drugs seized by the Nigeria — National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in the past five years.