In a bid to tackle the pervasive issue of illicit drug cultivation in Nigeria, international partners and local stakeholders have expressed their commitment to supporting the Alternative Development Project (ADP) initiated by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The project aims to redirect individuals involved in illicit drug production towards lawful and sustainable business opportunities.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop titled “Building a Support Network for the Alternative Development Project in Nigeria,” held on August 28, 2024, at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Buba Marwa, outlined the goals of the ADP. “In Nigeria, the Alternative Development Project will focus on reducing the vulnerabilities of ignorance, poverty, hunger, unemployment, and underdevelopment that push people into illicit economies, particularly illicit drug cultivation,” Marwa stated. He emphasized that the project would target both urban and rural areas through mechanisms such as sensitization, skills acquisition, and empowerment for sustainable livelihoods.
Marwa also highlighted the need for global support, expressing gratitude to the Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development in Berlin for facilitating a study visit to Thailand for NDLEA officers. He acknowledged the contributions of various stakeholders, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other NGOs, in developing the framework for the ADP.
Dr. Justice Tettey, Chief of the Drugs, Laboratory, and Scientific Services Branch of UNODC, commended NDLEA for its pioneering efforts in Africa. He noted that the success of the project hinges on a “people-centered and responsive approach” that ensures local ownership and meaningful participation. Tettey added that “environmental considerations must be paramount in all efforts around Alternative Development to ensure sustainability and protection of the ecosystem.”
Supporting these views, Mr. Danilo Campisi, Officer-in-Charge at the UNODC Country Office in Nigeria, condemned the exploitation of vulnerable youth by drug barons, stating that the 8,900 hectares of cannabis farmland currently being cultivated in six states could be used for licit crop production instead.
The workshop also featured remarks from Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, who lauded the initiative as being in line with President Tinubu’s commitment to addressing unemployment and youth empowerment. Other notable speakers included representatives from the United Nations International Organization for Migration and the International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals (ISSUP).