The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Ondo State Government have strengthened collaboration to confront drug abuse and illicit cultivation in the state, following alarming statistics on drug use in Nigeria.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), disclosed during a courtesy visit to Governor Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa in Akure that about 15 million Nigerians aged 15–64 currently use drugs, a figure nearly three times the global average.
He noted that Ondo State records a 17 per cent drug use prevalence, translating to about 400,000 users.
Marwa said the partnership with the Ondo State Government has become critical, particularly as the state remains Nigeria’s highest producer of cannabis due to favourable soil and climate.
He revealed that in 2025 alone, NDLEA operatives in the state made 336 arrests, seized over 22,000 kilogrammes of illicit drugs, destroyed 207,000 kilogrammes of cannabis from farms, and secured 62 convictions.
As part of a shift toward a more holistic approach, Marwa announced the launch of the NDLEA’s Alternative Development Programme in Ondo State. The initiative is designed to work with cannabis-growing communities by providing alternative livelihoods, legal crops, infrastructure and social services, alongside law enforcement.
Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed the collaboration, pledging full support for the NDLEA’s operations and programmes. He commended the agency for combining enforcement with development-driven solutions and assured that the state would continue to provide logistical and institutional backing.
The governor also expressed interest in ongoing scientific studies on the medicinal use of cannabis oil, advocating evidence-based policies and controlled frameworks where applicable, while maintaining a firm stance against illicit drug activities.
Both parties agreed that sustained cooperation, community engagement and alternative economic opportunities are key to achieving lasting success in tackling drug abuse and trafficking in Ondo State.
