Okpebholo, Oba of Benin Back NDLEA’s War Against Drugs as Marwa Seeks Wider Support

The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, have pledged their support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) campaign against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

The two prominent leaders gave their assurances on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, when the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), led a delegation of the agency on a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy visit to Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Receiving Marwa and his delegation at the Government House, Benin City, Governor Okpebholo described the fight against drug abuse and trafficking as a collective responsibility, stressing that illicit substances were linked to several criminal activities across the country.

The governor, who expressed admiration for the NDLEA chairman, said he had held Marwa in high esteem since his secondary school days.

He noted that drug abuse was a major factor contributing to criminality, including kidnapping, adding that the experience of security agencies had shown that some kidnappers demanded drugs from their victims before making ransom requests.

“There is the need for everyone to get involved and support the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, because at the root of virtually every crime is the issue of drugs. From our experience, even kidnappers first ask their victims for drugs before demanding ransom. That shows that illicit drugs are our enemy,” he said.

Okpebholo commended the Edo State Command of the NDLEA for its operations and assured the agency of his administration’s readiness to provide the necessary support to strengthen its activities.

He said his government was prepared to collaborate with the agency and respond positively to requests that would improve its operational capacity.

In his response, Marwa praised the governor for what he described as significant developmental achievements within a relatively short period in office.

He also commended Okpebholo’s position on the fight against illicit drugs, describing it as appropriate given the relationship between substance abuse and criminal activities.

The NDLEA chairman explained that a major objective of his visit was to secure the state government’s support for the agency’s Alternative Development Programme, an initiative designed to encourage cannabis farmers to abandon illicit cultivation and embrace legitimate agricultural activities.

According to him, the programme was introduced last year, with its pilot phase launched in Ondo State in January 2026. He said the initiative had recorded encouraging results, prompting the agency to extend it to Edo State.

Marwa therefore sought the governor’s support for the programme, alongside additional logistics assistance to strengthen the operations of the NDLEA command in the state.

The high point of the meeting was the decoration of Okpebholo as a WADA Grand Ambassador in recognition of his commitment to the campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

**Oba urges collective action against drug menace**

As part of the advocacy campaign, Marwa and his delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin at his palace, where the NDLEA chairman described substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking as among the three major challenges confronting Nigeria.

He disclosed that more than 15 million Nigerians were involved in drug abuse, representing a prevalence rate approximately three times the global average.

Marwa expressed concern that the problem had spread into schools and communities across the country, including the Benin Kingdom, warning that addressing the situation required the involvement of traditional rulers, religious institutions, government agencies, civil society organisations and the media.

Providing an insight into the scale of the drug problem in Edo State, he disclosed that the NDLEA arrested more than 1,200 suspected drug traffickers and seized over 30 tonnes of illicit substances in the state in 2025.

He further revealed that cannabis accounted for 75 per cent of the 16 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit substances seized by the agency nationwide over the past five years.

According to him, the significant proportion of cannabis seizures reflects the extent of local cultivation, with Edo State identified as one of the states where the illicit crop is produced.

Marwa explained that the responsibilities of the NDLEA extended beyond arresting drug traffickers and seizing prohibited substances to include helping people struggling with drug addiction through counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.

He, however, emphasised that the agency could not effectively tackle the menace without the cooperation of other institutions and stakeholders.

“It is the job of the NDLEA to enforce the law against drug trafficking, and as well help those who are addicted to drugs with counselling, treatment and rehabilitation. But this is an assignment that we cannot do alone. It is a whole-of-society approach.

“We need the traditional institutions, the church, CSOs, government and the media, because all hands must be on deck. Most importantly, the traditional institution, because there is no single institution in Nigeria today that commands the respect that the traditional institution has,” he said.

The NDLEA chairman acknowledged the Oba’s contributions to addressing social problems in the kingdom, particularly kidnapping and human trafficking.

He noted that the monarch’s interventions against human trafficking had helped reduce the menace in the Benin Kingdom.

Marwa subsequently sought the traditional ruler’s blessing and support in encouraging communities across the kingdom to abandon cannabis cultivation and the illicit drug trade.

He also appealed for the Oba’s support for the Alternative Development Programme, which he said had been presented to Governor Okpebholo earlier in the day and received a favourable response.

**NDLEA targets cannabis farmers with alternative livelihoods**

Explaining the details of the initiative, Marwa said Nigeria was the first country in Africa to adopt alternative development as a strategic pillar of its drug control policy.

He said the programme had received the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the endorsement of the Federal Government as part of its Renewed Hope Agenda.

Under the initiative, cannabis farmers are encouraged to replace illicit cultivation with legitimate agricultural activities, including the production of cassava, yam and maize.

The programme is designed to provide farmers with alternative sources of income through support from the Federal Government, state governments and the NDLEA.

Such assistance, according to Marwa, would include agricultural inputs and the provision of essential community infrastructure such as access roads, schools, healthcare facilities and potable water.

He explained that the objective was to address the economic factors driving cannabis cultivation by providing farmers with sustainable alternatives rather than relying exclusively on law enforcement measures.

Marwa said some farmers had expressed appreciation for the initiative, acknowledging that although cannabis cultivation could generate higher financial returns, legitimate farming offered them greater security and peace of mind.

“The growers themselves have confided in us that they are grateful for this initiative. Even though there is more money in cannabis, they will at least have peace of mind when they cultivate licit crops. With cannabis, they are perpetually ill at ease in their homes with their families for fear of NDLEA,” he said.

Responding, Oba Ewuare II thanked the NDLEA chairman for the visit and acknowledged the agency’s recognition of the Benin Kingdom’s contributions to the campaign against drug abuse and other social challenges.

The monarch expressed appreciation for the efforts being made by the traditional institution and the people of the kingdom to address substance abuse.

He also disclosed that he had some suggestions on how the NDLEA could improve its operations, indicating that he would communicate his recommendations directly to the agency’s chairman in writing.

“I have a suggestion that I will make in writing to NDLEA. I would not want to state it here in public. I want to put it quietly as my own thinking on how to improve the work of NDLEA, and I will forward it directly to the Chairman for you to advise your formidable team,” the Oba said.

**NDLEA mobilises transport unions**

Meanwhile, Marwa extended the WADA advocacy campaign to transport operators in Edo State, holding a separate meeting with leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), led by the state chairman, Comrade Saturday Oamen.

Addressing the union leaders, the NDLEA chairman urged them to use their positions and influence to educate drivers and other transport workers about the dangers of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

He called on the union to establish stronger collaboration with the agency to prevent the use of motor parks, roads and transport networks for the distribution and movement of illicit substances.

Marwa also urged transport operators to sensitise their members and communities on the need to reject drug abuse and support efforts to make Edo State free of illicit drugs.

The NDLEA chairman was also scheduled to engage religious leaders and civil society organisations as part of the agency’s broader efforts to mobilise community-based support for the national anti-drug campaign.

The advocacy engagements form part of the NDLEA’s strategy of combining law enforcement with public enlightenment, community mobilisation, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in tackling Nigeria’s growing substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking challenges.