By Akpan Glory

The Ashnik Alternative Development Initiative (AADI), a non-governmental organisation, has called on 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 call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

He raised concerns over the increasing cultivation of Cannabis sativa (commonly known as Indian hemp), especially in Southern Nigeria.

He labelled the trend an ‘environmental crime’, noting that cannabis farming is causing deforestation, altering rainfall patterns, raising temperatures, and depleting soil fertility.

This, he said, further exacerbates the country’s food insecurity.

“Data from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) underscore the scale of the problem.

“In 2013, the agency destroyed 847 hectares of cannabis plantations. By 2014, that figure had risen to over 4,500 hectares, a staggering increase of more than 400 per cent in just one year.

“Likewise, 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 the leadership of Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), which have resulted in the seizure of over 9.9 million kilogrammes of assorted drugs and the destruction of numerous cannabis farms since 2021, illicit cultivation continues to flourish”.

Shehu noted that the problem is severe in the South-Western states of Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, and Osun, as well as Delta and Edo in the South-South.

According to him, more young people in these areas are abandoning legitimate agriculture for the more profitable, yet illegal, cultivation of cannabis.

This shift, he said, is driven largely by international drug trafficking networks which promise high returns, but 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 on the rise.

“While the South struggles with illicit cultivation, Northern Nigeria is battling a parallel crisis: a surge in drug addiction, particularly among young people.

“States such as Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Gombe, Adamawa, and Borno are witnessing increasing abuse of cannabis, tramadol, codeine, and other synthetic drugs, many of which originate from the South or are smuggled into the country”.

The professor pointed to an undeniable link between cannabis farms in the South and addiction in the North, warning that traffickers are profiting from both ends of the trade.

He emphasised 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.

He noted that in response to these challenges, the NDLEA created 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.

Shehu said the initiative has earned international recognition, including endorsement from the United Nations, which acknowledged it as the first of its kind in Africa.

“The NDLEA is currently building strategic partnerships to scale the programme.

“One such collaboration is with the Niger State Government, which is incorporating alternative development into its agricultural transformation agenda to provide viable livelihoods for drug users and other vulnerable groups”.

Shehu underscored the need for support from policymakers, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, and the private sector.

He also called for increased technical and financial backing from international partners.

He stressed that land used for illicit farming must be reclaimed and repurposed for legitimate agriculture, backed by policies that incentivise private investment in affected communities.

He further called 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, he said, would improve its capacity to dismantle entrenched drug trafficking networks.

“In addition, 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 put in place to prohibit drug-related deforestation”.

Shehu also highlighted 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.  (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade