NDLEA Alternative Development Project receives boost as IITA set to partner with Agency 

Under the stewardship and transformational leadership of Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd) CON, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has sent a delegation of 17 professional personnel from various fields of the Agency to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan for a two-day study tour of the institution. 

The delegation had just concluded the first-ever recorded workshop on Alternative Development in Africa at her national headquarters in Abuja. 

Dr Kenton Dashiell, the Deputy Director General Partnership for Delivery, commended the NDLEA delegation for arriving early for the tour on Wednesday while receiving the study group delegation during the first study tour session at building 500 of the Institute. 

He assured that IITA would partner with the institution.

In his words: “We consider it an honour that you have selected IITA to come and visit. We trust that your visit will be informative and productive, and at least at the minimum, will give you ideas on alternatives for the farmers, but say it will be more; and that it will turn into actions that actually benefit farmers. And I want to let you know that if you decide to take actions, IITA will be ready, willing and able to be your partner.”

In response to Dr. Dashiell, the coordinator of the Alternative Development Project of the NDLEA, Dr. Jonah Kolo stated that over the years and decades, enforcement actions taken to combat illicit drug cultivation have resulted in the seizure and destruction of tonnes of various illicit drugs and cannabis plantations covering hundreds of thousands of hectares over decades. 

However, these actions have not been able to yield the much-needed results required to curtail the global drug problem. 

Hence, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) whose first visit to the IITA was in 1972, took a huge interest in using the Alternative Development initiative to change the narrative, a similar option he took in tackling youth induced insecurity in Lagos State as a Military Administrator. 

The Coordinator said, “Through the Alternative Development Project in Nigeria, we intend to protect the ecosystem from degradation; bring out illicit drug growers and provide them with licit alternative livelihoods. The NDLEA will provide alternatives in agriculture (plant and animal sector), as well as the industrial, commercial and the entertainment sectors of the economy. We will start with the Crop Substitution Program which will encourage illicit drug growers to abandon illicit crop plants and adopt licit crops of their choice, inter alia, rice, cassava, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, pepper, plantain, bananas. Cocoa. Kola nuts, oil palms, tomatoes, pepper.”

The NDLEA ADP Coordinator however used the opportunity to inform the institute of the NDLEA’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officers’ of a planned advocacy visit to Ondo State; a  pilot location for the Alternative Development Project in Nigeria. 

He said the advocacy will involve a visit to the State Governor, Royal fathers, vulnerable communities and a town hall meeting. 

The Alternative Development Programs in Nigeria will mark significant transition from illicit economies to flourishing licit livelihoods in the vulnerable communities.

On his part, the Deputy Director General, Partnership for Delivery IITA, assured the NDLEA-ADP team of the institution willingness to join Gen. Marwa at the advocacy visit to Ondo State.

During the opening session closing remarks, the Oyo State Commander of the NDLEA, Commander of Narcotics Olayinka Joe-Fadile, on behalf for the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, and the Study Group Team, thanked the IITA for doors of opportunities they have opened to help the NDLEA improve Nigeria’s agricultural landscape for its citizens, particularly its youth, interested researchers, and future farmers.