Global, local partners back NDLEA alternative development initiative

International and local stakeholders have pledged their support for Nigeria’s Alternative Development Project (ADP), a new initiative by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) aimed at steering illicit drug producers and dealers towards lawful, productive businesses.

The commitment was announced during a two-day workshop titled “Building a Support Network for the Alternative Development Project in Nigeria,” held at the NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja on August 28, 2024.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) outlined the ADP’s objectives, emphasizing the project’s focus on combating the underlying issues of ignorance, poverty, and unemployment that contribute to illicit drug cultivation. Marwa highlighted that the project aims to revitalize agricultural states and replace illicit drug farming with sustainable, legal crop production.

“We are committed to reducing vulnerabilities through mechanisms for sensitization, skills acquisition, and empowerment,” Marwa stated. “Our approach includes agricultural development, community development, and industrial engagements.”

The workshop also received praise for its support from the Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development, which funded a study visit to Thailand for NDLEA officers, and acknowledgments to former UNODC Country Representative Mr. Oliver Stolpe, UNODC’s Dr. Justice Tettey, and other contributors to the ADP framework.

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Dr. Tettey commended NDLEA’s pioneering role in Africa, stressing the importance of a people-centered approach, market access, and environmental sustainability. “The success of the ADP hinges on local involvement and sustainable practices,” Tettey emphasized.

UNODC Country Office Officer-in-Charge Mr. Danilo Campisi highlighted the potential for converting 8,900 hectares of cannabis farmland into productive, licit crops, condemning the exploitation of vulnerable youth by drug traffickers.

Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness, praised the initiative as aligned with President Tinubu’s goals for job creation and empowerment through productive agriculture.

The workshop featured remarks from various stakeholders, including Ms. Ana Medeiros from the UN International Organisation on Migrants, Mr. Thierry Rostan of the Global Coordinator, and Professor Bala Shehu of the Ashnik Alternative Development Initiative.