International and national partners have pledged their support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) Alternative Development Project, aimed at redirecting illicit drug producers and traffickers towards legitimate business opportunities.
The commitment was made during a two-day workshop titled “Building a Support Network for the Alternative Development Project in Nigeria,” held at NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) outlined the project’s focus on reducing poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment, which drive individuals towards illicit drug economies. The initiative seeks to replace drug cultivation with lawful agricultural activities and other sustainable livelihoods through sensitization, skills acquisition, and empowerment programs.
Marwa expressed gratitude to the Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development for funding a study visit to Thailand for NDLEA officers, and acknowledged support from various international bodies, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
UNODC representatives praised NDLEA for leading the way in Alternative Development in Africa and emphasized the importance of a people-centered approach, market access, and environmental sustainability for the project’s success.
Other speakers at the workshop included officials from the UNODC, Ashnik Alternative Development Initiative, and the International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals (ISSUP), who reiterated the need for robust global support to ensure the success of the initiative.
