The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has pledged support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) efforts to tackle illicit drug cultivation and rehabilitate drug users, through the provision of alternative livelihoods and agricultural opportunities.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, gave the assurance during a meeting with NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), and his management team in Abuja on Thursday.
Marwa noted that food security and national security, key priorities of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, are closely linked to drug control.
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He revealed that 10.6 million out of 14.3 million drug users in Nigeria abuse cannabis, making it the most widely consumed illicit drug.
According to him, NDLEA’s new Alternative Development initiative aims to persuade cannabis growers to switch to lawful, income-generating crops such as Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood), which could earn the country up to $100 billion annually through its use in malaria treatment.
He sought the ministry’s assistance in providing seeds, inputs, machinery, and other support to encourage the transition.
Marwa also proposed integrating individuals completing NDLEA rehabilitation programmes into agricultural projects to reduce the risk of relapse.
“Now, when our children, come to us for treatment and rehabilitation, because of drugs, we treat them, and they become normal people, responsible, after the treatment. Then you throw them back again into the same environment where they got into drug abuse, they will relapse,” he warned.
In response, Kyari acknowledged the link between drug abuse and criminality, stressing the urgency of joint action.
He committed the ministry to supporting the initiative, including providing livelihood tools for rehabilitated persons, in line with government priorities on food security, job creation, and youth and women’s empowerment.
To this end, both parties agreed to establish a technical committee to develop the framework for collaboration.
