The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have joined forces to tackle the menace of illicit drugs and promote food security in Nigeria.
This collaboration aims to provide alternative livelihoods for illicit drug producers and support the rehabilitation of drug users through agriculture a statement by the ministry of Agriculture stated.
Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security said “The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, places national security and food security as part of its main focus. We cannot tackle national security without adequate attention to drug control because they are interlinked.”
Kyari emphasised the importance of addressing drug abuse, stating, “There is a direct correlation between drug abuse and forms of criminality. If nothing is done by all stakeholders, the country may be breeding criminals instead of the next generation of leaders.”
The minister highlighted the potential of agriculture in achieving food security and national security, saying, “Agriculture offers immense opportunities to achieve food security and national security by creating employment, youth and women inclusivity, and improved livelihoods, among others.”
To support this initiative, the Ministry will provide cannabis growers with agricultural inputs such as seedlings, tractors, fertilizers, and farm tools. Kyari assured, “We will partner with NDLEA to support both the alternative development initiative and the rehabilitation agenda.”
Mohammed Buba Marwa, Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, noted that the visit was to seek collaboration between NDLEA and the Ministry to address the challenge of drug scourge facing the Country.
He stated, “Out of the 14.3 million drug users in Nigeria, 10.6 million of them abuse cannabis alone, making the psychoactive substance the most commonly abused in the country.”
Marwa revealed that the Alternative Development project had secured the buy-in of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and they are willing to encourage the initiative. He added, “But for us to tell cannabis growers, please, don’t grow cannabis, grow something else, there has to be incentives for them to agree. I’ve actually had a meeting with some cannabis growers and discussed this idea with them.”
The meeting between FMAFS and NDLEA resulted in an understanding to set up a Technical Committee that would work on the details of the collaboration. This partnership is expected to make a significant impact in addressing the interconnected challenges of drug abuse and food insecurity in Nigeria.
As Kyari succinctly put, “We should join hands. This is the collaborative effort that President Tinubu has already mandated us to do—not only achieving food security, but also creating jobs, improving livelihoods, and giving hope to youth and women, access to capital and credit.”
