The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has disclosed that about 15 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 use hard drugs, a figure he said is almost three times the global average.
Marwa made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at the Government House in Akure. Citing the 2018 United Nations drug use survey, he said one in every seven Nigerians within the age bracket consumes illicit drugs, describing the situation as “unacceptably high.”
According to him, drug use prevalence in Ondo State stands at 17 percent, translating to about 400,000 users. This compares with 33 percent in Lagos State, estimated at two million users, and 24 percent in Oyo State.
Marwa revealed that in 2025 alone, the NDLEA command in Ondo State made 336 arrests, seized 22,316 kilograms of illicit drugs, and secured 62 convictions. He added that an additional 207,000 kilograms of cannabis were seized and destroyed from farms and plantations across the state.
He also disclosed that the agency’s counselling and rehabilitation centre in Ondo treated 243 drug users during the year, describing the state as the largest producer of cannabis in Nigeria due to its favourable climate and soil conditions.
The NDLEA boss said the agency had commissioned the Nigerian Academy of Science to conduct a scientific study on cannabis-extracted oil for medicinal purposes, stressing that any decision on controlled cultivation or export would be strictly evidence-based.
He further revealed that the NDLEA has established an Alternative Development Unit at its headquarters to support cannabis-growing communities in transitioning from illicit cultivation to legal agricultural activities. The initiative, he said, includes community development, provision of farm inputs, infrastructure, schools, clinics, and access to markets to ensure sustainable livelihoods.
Ondo State, Marwa explained, was selected as a pilot location following a year of engagement with cannabis-producing communities. He commended the state government for its support, including the establishment of a State Drug Control Committee, plans to extend it to local government areas, and the provision of financial and operational assistance to the NDLEA command.
He described the governor’s engagement with the agency as a clear demonstration of state-level commitment to tackling drug abuse and trafficking, which he said is critical to the success of national efforts.
In his response, Governor Aiyedatiwa pledged the full support of his administration for the NDLEA’s Alternative Development Programme in the state. He praised Marwa for personally driving the initiative, describing it as a strong step toward curbing illicit drug cultivation, production, trafficking, and consumption.
The governor noted that while Ondo is the country’s largest producer of cannabis, it is also a major producer of legitimate crops such as cocoa, owing to its fertile soil, extensive forests, and favourable climate. He assured the NDLEA of continued government support, recalling previous assistance provided in the form of vehicles and logistics.
Aiyedatiwa suggested that an Alternative Development Unit could operate under the governor’s office in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant advisers. He highlighted ongoing state initiatives such as the “Youth on Ridges” cocoa programme, covering over 5,000 hectares, and the “Tomato Revolution,” which he said supplies about 40 percent of tomatoes sold in Lagos markets.
He stressed the importance of community engagement involving traditional rulers, churches, and mosques to drive behavioural change, adding that education and enforcement must go hand in hand for lasting results.
The governor also expressed interest in the medicinal use of cannabis oil, urging the NDLEA to expedite research and share its findings, while advocating controlled cultivation for medical purposes in line with global best practices.
