Abuja: The Ashnik Alternative Development Initiative (AADI), a non-governmental organisation, has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the cultivation and use of illicit drugs in Nigeria. Prof. Bala Shehu, Director of AADI, made this appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, highlighting the urgent need to address the escalating issue of drug cultivation and its environmental impact.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Prof. Shehu expressed deep concern over the rising cultivation of Cannabis sativa, commonly known as Indian hemp, particularly in Southern Nigeria. He described this trend as an ‘environmental crime’, stating that cannabis farming is leading to deforestation, altering rainfall patterns, raising temperatures, and depleting soil fertility, all of which exacerbate the nation’s food insecurity.
Prof. Shehu cited data from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to illustrate the scale of the problem. The agency destroyed 847 hectares of cannabis plantations in 2013, a figure that surged to over 4,500 hectares by 2014, marking a more than 400 per cent increase in just one year. Furthermore, a 2019 survey by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) documented 8,900 hectares of cannabis cultivation across six states in Southern Nigeria. Despite intensified enforcement efforts under Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), which have led to the seizure of over 9.9 million kilogrammes of assorted drugs since 2021, illicit cultivation continues to thrive.
The problem is particularly acute in the South-Western states of Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, and Osun, as well as Delta and Edo in the South-South, where many young people are abandoning legitimate agriculture for the more profitable, albeit illegal, cultivation of cannabis. Prof. Shehu attributed this shift to international drug trafficking networks that promise high returns but also expose young people to the risks of arrest, violence, and exploitation.
Significant quantities of cannabis grown in these regions are trafficked to black markets in Europe, Asia, and North America, while local consumption is also increasing. Meanwhile, Northern Nigeria faces a parallel crisis with a surge in drug addiction, particularly among young people. States such as Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Gombe, Adamawa, and Borno are experiencing rising abuse of cannabis, tramadol, codeine, and other synthetic drugs, many of which originate from the South or are smuggled into the country.
Prof. Shehu highlighted the link between cannabis farms in the South and addiction in the North, warning that traffickers are profiting from both ends of the trade. He emphasized that families are being torn apart by the social and economic consequences of drug abuse, productive agricultural labour is being lost, and insecurity is on the rise.
In response to these challenges, the NDLEA established the Alternative Development Unit (ADU) in September 2023 to address the root causes of drug cultivation, such as poverty, hunger, and unemployment. The unit aims to shift illicit cannabis farmers to food and animal production through the Crop Substitution Programme (CSP), enhancing food security in affected regions. The initiative has garnered international recognition, including endorsement from the United Nations as the first of its kind in Africa.
Prof. Shehu underscored the importance of support from policymakers, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, and the private sector. He called for increased technical and financial backing from international partners and stressed the need to reclaim and repurpose land used for illicit farming for legitimate agriculture, supported by policies that incentivise private investment in affected communities.
He further advocated for enhanced law enforcement and surveillance capabilities, including the use of satellite technology and drones to monitor illicit farms. Increased funding and staffing for the NDLEA would improve its capacity to dismantle entrenched drug trafficking networks. Additionally, sustainable livelihood programmes must be introduced to train former cannabis farmers in legal agricultural practices and provide them with access to farming tools and credit through cooperative schemes.
Grassroots campaigns are also needed to raise public awareness about the dangers of illicit cultivation, and robust regulations must be established to prohibit drug-related deforestation. Prof. Shehu also emphasized the importance of psychological support and reorientation programmes to help individuals transition from illicit to legitimate livelihoods.
Founded in 2021, the Ashnik Alternative Development Initiative (AADI) promotes humanitarian and correctional justice approaches to tackling drug-related issues. The organisation works to build peaceful, sustainable communities and improve the prospects of young Nigerians through alternative livelihoods and development-focused interventions.