In a decisive move to curb the cultivation of illicit substances, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has strengthened its Alternative Development (AD) initiative through a strategic partnership with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).
The agency also carried out a field assessment of Artemisia annua cultivation in Ibafo, Ogun State.
During a visit to the institution, the agency said it was moving beyond enforcement toward practical socio-economic solutions that address the root causes of drug production.
The National Coordinator, Alternative Development Project in Nigeria, CN Jonah Kolo, highlighted four critical pillars for the engagement, including transitioning farmers from illicit crops to legal agriculture, integrating youths into structured farming systems, scaling academic research into field programs, and fortifying food systems in vulnerable communities.
He reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to partnerships that deliver practical results, strengthen livelihoods, and support national development priorities.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Professor Babatunde Kehinde, welcomed the initiative, offering the university’s extensive resources, including thousands of hectares of arable land to support the cause.
Kehinde noted that the promotion of legitimate farming provides steady income to alleviate poverty and acts as a preventive measure by reducing the vulnerability of youths to the lures of the drug trade.
The Vice-Chancellor also advocated for a holistic approach to drug control by strengthening rehabilitation efforts, pointing to an underutilized private rehabilitation center near the university as a potential site for synergy.
Kehinde called for the integration of vocational training into rehabilitation programs and ensuring that these individuals possess the entrepreneurial skills necessary for successful reintegration into society.
