NDLEA and Ondo Government Launch Mega Plan to Swap Cannabis Farms for High-Profit Food Crops

Ondo State is looking to trade its reputation as Nigeria’s “cannabis capital” for a new title: a hub for high-value medicinal and food crops. In a landmark move, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has teamed up with the state government to launch a pilot program that offers local farmers a way out of the illegal drug trade and into a more profitable, legal future.

During a high-stakes meeting in Akure, NDLEA boss Buba Marwa made a surprising announcement: the agency is no longer looking to just “bust” farmers in the bushes. Instead, they are offering a “peace treaty.” Under the new Alternative Development Project, farmers in three pilot communities will be supported to grow legitimate crops like Artemisia annua a plant used in malaria medicine that is currently more valuable on the global market than marijuana.

The shift isn’t just about farming; it’s about safety. Marwa pointed out that the deep forests used for cannabis cultivation have become “no-go zones” where kidnappers and bandits now set up camp. By clearing these plantations and replacing them with legitimate farms, the government hopes to flush out criminals and restore peace to the rural communities.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has thrown his full weight behind the plan, promising that the state will provide the heavy lifting literally. The government has pledged to provide free land, clear the fields, and hand out high-quality seeds to any farmer ready to ditch the drug business.

“We are turning our former enemies into friends,” Marwa told the gathering of traditional rulers and youth leaders. The message was clear: for those willing to work with the law, the government is ready to invest in their success. But for those who stay in the “weed” business, the agency’s enforcement teams will still be watching.

With drug use in Nigeria reaching nearly three times the global average, this “Ondo Model” is being watched closely. If it succeeds, the NDLEA plans to roll out the same “seeds-for-weed” swap across the entire country, aiming for a drug-free and food-secure Nigeria.