Okpebholo, Oba of Benin pledge support for NDLEA drug war

By Kingsley Omonobi BENIN CITY — Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, have pledged support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its campaign against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. The two leaders gave the assurance on Wednesday when the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.

Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), led the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign to Benin City. Receiving Marwa and his delegation at the Government House, Okpebholo described the fight against illicit drugs as a collective responsibility, noting that substance abuse was associated with several criminal activities. The governor, who said he had admired Marwa since his secondary school days, commended the NDLEA command in Edo State and pledged his administration’s support for its operations.

“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 drug is our enemy,” he said. Okpebholo added: “Your officers and men in Edo are doing excellent work.

We are ready to work with you, we are ready to partner with you, and we are ready to support you with any request you bring before us.” In his remarks, Marwa commended the governor’s support for the agency and sought his cooperation in implementing the NDLEA’s Alternative Development Programme, which encourages cannabis growers to switch to legitimate crops and sustainable livelihoods.

He explained that the initiative, introduced last year, was designed to discourage illicit cannabis cultivation by providing farmers with alternatives and support for legitimate agricultural activities. According to him, the pilot phase of the programme, launched in Ondo State in January, had recorded encouraging results, prompting the agency to extend it to Edo.

Marwa sought the governor’s support for the programme, as well as additional logistics assistance for NDLEA operations in the state. The highlight of the visit was the decoration of Okpebholo as a WADA Grand Ambassador in recognition of his support for the campaign against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. Marwa and his delegation subsequently visited the Oba of Benin at his palace, where the NDLEA chairman described drug abuse as one of the major challenges confronting Nigeria.

He disclosed that more than 15 million Nigerians were involved in drug abuse, representing a prevalence rate about three times the global average. Marwa said the problem had spread to schools and communities across the country, including the Benin Kingdom. He also disclosed that the agency arrested more than 1,200 suspected drug traffickers and seized over 30 tonnes of illicit substances in Edo State in 2025.

He added that of the 16 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit substances seized nationwide by the agency in the last five years, cannabis accounted for about 75 per cent. According to him, Edo is among the states where cannabis is cultivated. Marwa said the NDLEA’s responsibilities extended beyond enforcing drug laws to providing counselling, treatment and rehabilitation for people struggling with substance dependence.

“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,” he said.

He particularly emphasised the importance of traditional institutions, describing them as influential partners in community mobilisation against drug abuse. The NDLEA chairman acknowledged the Oba’s support in tackling drug abuse and other social problems, including kidnapping and human trafficking. He appealed to the monarch to encourage communities across the Benin Kingdom to shun illicit drug cultivation and trafficking and support the Alternative Development Programme.

Explaining the initiative, Marwa said Nigeria was the first country in Africa to adopt alternative development as a strategic pillar of drug control, an approach welcomed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and endorsed by the Federal Government. Under the programme, cannabis growers are encouraged to cultivate legitimate crops such as cassava, yam and maize, with support from the Federal Government, state governments and the NDLEA.

The support includes farm inputs and community infrastructure such as roads, schools, clinics and water supply. Marwa said some farmers had expressed appreciation for the initiative because it offered them an opportunity to pursue legitimate farming without fear of arrest over illicit cannabis cu