The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has partnered with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to provide sustainable alternatives for illicit drug producers, particularly cannabis growers.
During a courtesy visit by NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), to the ministry in Abuja on Thursday, Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, reaffirmed the ministry’s readiness to support the agency’s ongoing drug control initiatives.
Marwa revealed that cannabis remains Nigeria’s most abused drug, with 10.6 million of the country’s 14.3 million drug users consuming the substance in various forms, from smoking to cooking and mixing it into alcoholic drinks such as “monkey tail”.
He said the NDLEA has launched the Alternative Development Project to encourage cannabis growers to switch to legitimate crops, providing them with inputs, seedlings, fertilisers, and access to equipment such as tractors.
Among the proposed alternatives is the cultivation of Artemisia annua, also known as sweet wormwood. This plant has pharmaceutical value for malaria treatment and could potentially generate $100 billion annually for Nigeria.
“They will be able to sleep with their two eyes closed. Instead of always fearing arrest by NDLEA, they will live respectable lives with their families and communities,” Marwa said, noting that the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs has endorsed the initiative.
The collaboration will also integrate individuals rehabilitated at NDLEA facilities into agricultural programmes to equip them with livelihoods and prevent relapse into drug use.
Minister Kyari welcomed the partnership, citing its potential to address food security, employment, youth and women empowerment, and crime prevention.
The minister agreed that there is a direct correlation between drug abuse and other forms of criminality, noting that if nothing is done urgently by all stakeholders, the country may be breeding criminals instead of the next generation of leaders.
We are committed to this alternative development programme and to supporting rehabilitation through agriculture.
Source: The Cable
Image Credit: Per Second News
