The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd.), has solicited the support of traditional rulers in the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria.

Marwa spoke at the palace of the Oba of Benin on Tuesday while paying a courtesy call on the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, during his visit to Benin City.

The NDLEA boss, who said he was in Edo State on an assessment visit to the NDLEA state command, and also to address the Regimental Sergeant Majors Convention of the Nigerian Army, described drug abuse as one of the major scourges bedevilling the country.

“Over 15 million Nigerians are abusing drugs. This is three times the global average. It is a whole-of-society approach.

We need the traditional institutions, church, CSOs, government, media, because all hands must be on deck. But most importantly, the traditional institutions.”

While acknowledging the support by the Oba of Benin in the fight against drug abuse, Marwa disclosed that the NDLEA had introduced a new pillar in drug control which involves approaching communities cultivating cannabis.

“Out of the 16 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances that we have seized in the last six years, 75 per cent is cannabis, because we cultivate it in Nigeria. And Edo State is one of the cultivating states as well.

“So, we have introduced alternative development as a strategic pillar in which we are appealing to and persuading the growers of cannabis to desist from cannabis cultivation and plant cassava, yam, corn and other food crops.

“They themselves have confided in us that they are grateful for this initiative because, though there is more money in cannabis, cultivating food crops will give them peace of mind. So this is the new strategy, and we are the first to use it in Africa. The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime have welcomed it.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has welcomed it as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda for illicit crop producers to move away from crime to licit businesses.”

In his response, the Oba of Benin commended the NDLEA for the fight against illicit drugs and promised to hand his personal counsel on the fight against drug abuse to the chairman.

“I must commend the NDLEA officials for their efforts to rid society of illicit drugs, and I will personally hand over my suggestions to the chairman,” he added.