In a crucial meeting at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, emphasized the urgent need for an alternative development strategy.
Marwa underscored the importance of such a strategy in combating illicit drug production, trafficking, and protecting the environment from exploitation by drug cartels.
At the NDLEA Special Purpose Committee meeting on alternative development projects in Nigeria, Marwa called for concerted and collaborative efforts to curb the rising menace of illicit drug trafficking.
The chairman’s concern echoed the sentiments of other experts present at the meeting, including representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) office in Vienna, Austria, and stakeholders from across Nigeria.
Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Publicity, shared a statement on Friday that highlighted the gravity of the situation.
He noted, “Without doubt, illicit drug cultivation and production have contributed significantly, not only in threatening the national and global security but also in modifying the natural ecosystem with severe consequences evidenced in environmental degradation which has impacted negatively on the climate and human health.”
Representing Marwa at the meeting, Otunba Lanre Ipinmisho, the Special Adviser on National Drug Control Master Plan, outlined the NDLEA’s proactive measures. He emphasized, “In our efforts to provide people-centered sustainable and legitimate alternatives to illicit drugs, we will set up structures to provide education to the people on the dangers that illicit drug cultivation and production pose to security and the environment.
Also, as part of our crop substitution programme, we will develop strategies to attract investments into alternative development projects through a public-private partnership, particularly in the agricultural sector.”
The NDLEA boss stressed the pivotal role of community buy-in, underscoring it as a key element for the success of the proposed program. This approach aligns with the broader strategy of engaging communities in the fight against illicit drug production and trafficking.
Addressing the meeting, Dr. Jorrit Kamminga, the UNODC’s consultant on the Alternative/Sustainable Livelihoods Team in Vienna, Austria, commended the NDLEA for pioneering initiatives that incorporate alternative development into the fight against illicit drug trafficking.
He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s potential to lead in Africa by showcasing how alternative development and similar livelihood initiatives can effectively tackle challenges such as illicit cannabis cultivation.
As the nation confronts the escalating threat posed by hard drug production, the call for a multifaceted approach that combines education, community involvement, and public-private partnerships echoes beyond the NDLEA meeting.
Marwa’s warning serves as a clarion call for a united front against the pervasive and insidious influence of drug cartels, not just for national security but also for the well-being of the environment and the health of the population.
