The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa, has commended the Edo State Government for its support in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, describing the state as an important partner in the agency’s efforts to tackle the menace.

Marwa gave the commendation on Thursday, November 5, 2026, during an interactive stakeholders’ engagement held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy in Benin City, where he praised Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, for their commitment to drug control initiatives.

The NDLEA chairman described Edo as a state with a rich heritage in sports, arts, culture and history, stressing that its support for the campaign against substance abuse demonstrated an understanding that the future of children and young people must be protected.

He recalled that Edo was among the states where the State Drug Control Committee was chaired by the First Lady and noted that Mrs. Anani’s personal participation in an NDLEA stakeholders’ engagement reflected the level of attention the state government was giving to the issue.

Marwa said the fight against drugs required leaders who were prepared to invest in the future of young people, rather than concentrating only on visible infrastructure projects.

He also commended the NDLEA Edo State Command, the Commissioner of Police, the Nigerian Air Force, the military, other security agencies, non-governmental organisations and community groups for their cooperation with the agency.

A major announcement at the engagement was Edo State’s selection for the NDLEA’s Alternative Development Programme, an initiative designed to encourage communities involved in illicit cannabis cultivation to embrace legitimate agricultural activities and sustainable sources of livelihood.

Marwa attributed the decision to the support demonstrated by Governor Okpebholo and the First Lady, disclosing that an NDLEA team had remained in the state to commence community engagement ahead of the programme’s implementation.

The initiative is intended to address one of the economic factors sustaining illegal cannabis cultivation by helping farmers transition to lawful crops and other productive activities.

The programme follows a pilot initiative launched in selected cannabis-growing communities in Ondo State. The NDLEA has explained that alternative development goes beyond destroying illicit farms, requiring sustainable economic opportunities that can make lawful farming viable for affected communities.

Marwa disclosed that drug-use prevalence in Edo State stood at approximately 15 per cent among people aged 15 to 64, compared with 33 per cent in Lagos State and 16 per cent in Kano State.

Although Edo’s reported rate was lower than the figures cited for Lagos and Kano, he described the situation as unacceptable and called for stronger collaboration to prevent drug abuse and trafficking.

He further disclosed that the NDLEA arrested more than 1,200 suspects and seized approximately 30 tonnes of illicit substances in Edo State in 2025 alone.

The NDLEA chairman also referenced the agency’s nationwide enforcement activities, stating that more than 16 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs had been seized over six years, with cannabis accounting for about 75 per cent of the total.

He warned that the continued cultivation of cannabis despite repeated seizures and enforcement operations showed the need to address the economic circumstances that encourage some farmers to engage in illegal cultivation.

According to him, some farmers consider cannabis cultivation a means of livelihood, making it necessary for government and relevant agencies to provide viable alternatives that can sustain their families.

Marwa also renewed his advocacy for drug testing for intending couples, suggesting that it should be considered alongside HIV and genotype screening before marriage.

He argued that families should take substance abuse seriously when making decisions that could affect their future, while emphasising the importance of preventing drug-related problems before they escalate.

In her remarks, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady and Chairperson of the Edo State Drug Control Committee, described drug abuse as a serious threat to families, communities and the future of young Nigerians.

Welcoming Marwa and other heads of agencies to the state, she described drugs as a highway to death and warned that substance abuse was affecting children, women and entire communities.

She said the consequences extended beyond individual health challenges, linking drug abuse to social problems and criminal activities, including kidnapping, stealing and murder.

Anani cautioned that failure to address the problem could create long-term consequences for society, particularly if a growing number of young people became affected by drug-related illnesses and addiction.

She also drew attention to the financial burden faced by families struggling to support relatives battling drug addiction, citing the case of a family that reportedly spent about ₦20 million on rehabilitation and treatment following repeated relapses by an addicted son.

According to her, the experience illustrated the economic and emotional pressure drug dependence could place on households, making prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation important parts of the response.

The First Lady’s coordinator commended Governor Okpebholo for his support for drug control activities and acknowledged the efforts of the NDLEA State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, in tackling drug abuse and trafficking in Edo.

She urged members of the State Drug Control Committee to adopt a broader community-based strategy by taking sensitisation campaigns beyond government offices and formal meetings.

She specifically called for stronger engagement with marketplaces, motor parks, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents on the streets, including vulnerable individuals who could be recruited or exploited as drug couriers and peddlers.

Anani also praised the NDLEA’s Alternative Development and Sustainable Livelihood Project, describing it as an innovative approach to addressing the economic conditions behind illicit cannabis cultivation.

She said replacing destroyed cannabis farms with legitimate agricultural activities could provide farmers with alternative incomes while contributing to food production, reducing unemployment and addressing some of the conditions that fuel insecurity.

She disclosed that Edo State was interested in adopting the model following the pilot programme in Ondo State and commended the agency for its willingness to extend the initiative to the state.

The stakeholders’ engagement featured an interactive session during which participants raised questions, shared experiences and offered recommendations on strengthening the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

The meeting brought together representatives of security agencies, government institutions, non-governmental organisations and community groups, with participants emphasising the importance of cooperation in prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation and public education.

The engagement underscored the position of the NDLEA and Edo State Government that tackling substance abuse requires more than arrests and seizures, with families, schools, religious institutions, traditional rulers, community organisations and government agencies expected to play active roles.

Marwa’s commendation of Edo State and the selection of the state for the Alternative Development Programme place renewed attention on the need to combine law enforcement with sustainable livelihood opportunities, particularly in communities affected by illicit drug cultivation.

IBN News — Fearless, Strong & Reliable