From Farms to Food: Why NDLEA is Offering Sustainable Livelihoods to Cannabis Growers

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has detailed the strategic reasoning behind the agency’s initiative to provide alternative, sustainable livelihoods for illicit cannabis farmers. Speaking on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Marwa emphasized that the war against drug abuse cannot be won by enforcement and arrests alone, but must include addressing the root economic causes of cultivation.

The NDLEA’s "Alternative Development" program aims to persuade farmers to swap cannabis cultivation for legal, high-value food crops and agribusiness. According to Marwa, many of these farmers are trapped in a cycle of illegality due to poverty and a lack of viable economic alternatives. By providing seeds, technical support, and market access for legal crops, the agency intends to dry up the supply of illicit drugs at the source.

"We are not just destroying farms; we are planting hope," Marwa stated. "If we destroy a cannabis farm without providing an alternative for the farmer, the tendency is for them to return to the same business or find other criminal means to survive. By offering sustainable livelihoods, we are tackling the problem from a socio-economic perspective."

The NDLEA boss noted that this approach aligns with international best practices in drug control, focusing on reducing the "supply side" of the drug trade while simultaneously empowering rural communities. He highlighted that the agency is partnering with agricultural experts and state governments to ensure that the transition is profitable for the farmers, making the cultivation of food crops more attractive than the risky business of cannabis.

Marwa also pointed out that this initiative serves a dual purpose: enhancing national food security while significantly reducing the availability of illicit substances on Nigerian streets.

Do you think offering incentives and alternative farming is a better way to stop drug production than simply burning farms and making arrests? Share your comments below!

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