Last Updated on April 28, 2026 by Olasunkanmi Olajide
By Joy Adeyiga & Raymond Osemene
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has proposed a strategic partnership with the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) to combat illicit drug cultivation through sustainable agricultural practices.
The Chairman/CEO of the NDLEA, Brigadier- General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), made the call during a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, today, April 21, 2026.
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Kehinde lauded the initiative noting the University’s vast agricultural resources, including thousands of hectares of arable land. He stated that promoting legitimate crop farming as an alternative source of income could help reduce poverty and limit young people’s vulnerability to drug abuse.
The Vice-Chancellor also emphasised the need to strengthen rehabilitation efforts, drawing attention to an underutilised privately owned rehabilitation centre located near the University. He advocated the integration of entrepreneurial skills such as fashion design, shoemaking, and other vocations into rehabilitation programmes to support the reintegration of recovering individuals.
Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Col. Murtala Aminu, Gen. Marwa described FUNAAB as a leading institution in agricultural education and research. He disclosed that between 2021 and 2025, the Agency seized over 14.8 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs, about 75 per cent of which was cannabis and successfully prosecuted thousands of offenders.
Despite these achievements, he identified recidivism as a major concern, attributing it largely to the lack of sustainable livelihoods. Citing a 2018 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, he revealed that over 10.6 million Nigerians use cannabis, adding that illicit cultivation continues to threaten food security as some farmers abandon legitimate crops for more profitable illegal alternatives.
To address the challenge, the NDLEA established its Alternative Development Unit in September 2023, making Nigeria the first African country to institutionalise the approach. The initiative focused on promoting food security, reducing poverty, and creating employment opportunities for vulnerable youths.
Gen. Marwa further called for enhanced collaboration among government, academia, and the private sector to translate research into actionable policies. He identified FUNAAB as a critical partner, noting that its expertise in agriculture would be instrumental in transitioning illicit crop farmers to sustainable food production systems.
