Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa, rtd, on Tuesday, advocated for populist intervention against illicit drugs to uplift communities and improve the security of the country.
The NDLEA Boss, at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, demanded strong national response and sustained support to reinforce the NDLEA operations towards the alternative development programme recently initiated to curb illicit cannabis cultivation, uplift rural communities and strengthen national security.
Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Tuesday, indicated that the press conference in Abuja was to drum support for the first in Africa drug control initiative. The pilot scheme was launched in three cannabis growing communities in Ondo state last week.
Explaining the alternative development strategy of drug control, the NDLEA boss said the concept goes far beyond crop substitution. He stated that “its wider benefits include: strengthening rural economies through value-chain development; reducing the burden on law enforcement and the justice system; promoting peace and social cohesion in previously crime-prone areas; supporting national food production and agricultural diversification; improving Nigeria’s international standing in global drug control and development cooperation.”
According to Marwa, “this approach represents a win-win solution—for communities, for government, and for national security. The successful take off of the pilot scheme in Ilu Abo, Ifon, and Eleyewo, Ondo State, last week clearly demonstrates that alternative development works when communities are engaged, supported, and empowered.
“We, therefore, call for a strong national response and sustained support from all stakeholders across all layers of government, traditional rulers and community leaders, development partners and donor agencies, the private sector and agricultural value-chain actors, as well as civil society organizations and the media.”
