NDLEA Seeks Partnership With FUNAAB to Combat Illicit Drug Cultivation

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called for a strategic collaboration with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), to tackle illicit drug cultivation through sustainable agricultural practices.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) made the appeal during a courtesy visit to Vice-Chancellor Prof. Babatunde Kehinde on April 21, 2026.  

Prof. Kehinde welcomed the initiative, highlighting FUNAAB’s extensive agricultural resources and stressing that legitimate crop farming could serve as an alternative source of income, reducing poverty and curbing youth vulnerability to drug abuse. He also underscored the importance of rehabilitation, advocating for the integration of entrepreneurial skills such as fashion design and shoemaking into recovery programs.  

Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Col. Murtala Aminu, Gen. Marwa described FUNAAB as a leading institution in agricultural education and research. He revealed that between 2021 and 2025, the NDLEA seized over 14.8 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs—75 percent of which was cannabis—and successfully prosecuted thousands of offenders.  

Despite these successes, Marwa identified recidivism as a pressing challenge, citing the lack of sustainable livelihoods. He referenced a 2018 UNODC report estimating that over 10.6 million Nigerians use cannabis, warning that illicit cultivation undermines food security as farmers abandon legitimate crops for more profitable illegal alternatives. 

To address the issue, the NDLEA established its Alternative Development Unit in September 2023, making Nigeria the first African country to institutionalize the approach. The initiative aims to promote food security, reduce poverty, and create employment opportunities for vulnerable youths.  

Marwa emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among government, academia, and the private sector to translate research into actionable policies, identifying FUNAAB as a critical partner in transitioning illicit crop farmers to sustainable food production systems.