NDLEA seized over 30 tonnes of illicit drugs in Edo in 2025 - Marwa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says it seized more than 30 tonnes of illicit substances in Edo State in 2025 and arrested over 1,200 suspected drug traffickers within the period.

Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, retd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, disclosed this on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin at his palace in Benin City.

Marwa said he was in the state on an assessment visit to the NDLEA Edo State Command and to address the Regimental Sergeant Majors Convention of the Nigerian Army.

The retired army general, who described drug abuse as one of the leading social problems in Nigeria, said more than 15 million Nigerians abuse drugs.

He said the figure was three times the global average, adding that drug abuse had continued to devastate youths, families and communities.

"Now it is the job of the NDLEA to enforce the law against drug trafficking, and as well help those who are addicted to the use of drugs with counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation.

"And the great Benin Kingdom is not exempted from this scourge because it does not discriminate. It is everywhere," he said.

He solicited the support of traditional rulers in the fight against drug abuse and cultivation, stressing that the agency could not win the battle alone.

"It is a whole-of-society approach. We need the traditional institution, the church, CSOs, government, media, because all hands must be on deck. But most importantly, the traditional institution.

"There is no single institution in Nigeria today that has the respect that the traditional institution has. But this is an assignment that we cannot do alone.

"Whoever you are in Nigeria, you have your own traditional ruler that you must go and seek his blessing and his help. And that is why we wish to first of all acknowledge the support that Your Royal Majesty has been giving on drug control and all the other maladies in our society.

"Against kidnapping, against, unfortunately, human trafficking, which I learned Your Majesty gave a curse, and it worked because that has now started to come down here.

"We seek Your Royal Blessings and support throughout this kingdom for the communities to stay away from drug trafficking and drug trading," he added.

Marwa also disclosed that the agency had introduced a new initiative aimed at tackling cannabis cultivation by persuading farmers involved in the illicit trade to embrace alternative crops.

He said the initiative, known as alternative development, involved engaging communities cultivating cannabis and encouraging them to switch to legitimate agricultural products.

"So we've introduced alternative development as a strategy in which we are appealing and persuading the growers of cannabis to desist from illicit cropping and plant cassava, yam, corn, licit substances.

"The farmers have confided in us that they are grateful for this initiative because even though there is more money in cannabis than these licit substances, at least they will have peace of mind when they cultivate because though the other one gives them money, they are perpetually not at ease in their homes with their families for fear of NDLEA.

"If a cockroach moves or a rat in their house, they all jump out and start looking for a way to escape.

"So this is the new strategy. We are the first in Africa with this strategy. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has welcomed it. The Federal Government of Nigeria has welcomed it as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda for illicit croppers to move away from crime to licit businesses.

"The Federal Government supports, NDLEA supports, and the state government supports with inputs and other ways in the community to make their livelihoods more sustainable, fixing the roads, the schools, the clinics, water supply.

"We have started this alternative development as a pilot project in Ondo State in the three communities supported by the Federal Government, and the governor of Ondo himself was part and parcel of the launch," he stated.

He said the initiative would soon be launched in Edo State.

Responding, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, commended the NDLEA for its efforts in the fight against illicit drugs and substances in the country.

The monarch said he would personally forward a proposal to the NDLEA chairman on ways to address the drug abuse scourge in the country.

NDLEA seized over 30 tonnes of illicit drugs in Edo in 2025 - Marwa