In a bold move to combat rising substance abuse among young Nigerians, the Federal Government has approved the implementation of compulsory and random drug integrity tests for students in all tertiary institutions across the country.
The decision was reached during a high-level meeting held Wednesday in Abuja between the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd).
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, in a statement, disclosed that the meeting led to the adoption of a comprehensive national strategy to address drug use within Nigeria’s education system. Key highlights of the strategy include the revision of school curricula, targeted prevention programmes, and the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the Federal Ministry of Education.
Marwa, who tabled a three-pronged proposal, called for a systemic overhaul of drug education across all levels, the introduction of dedicated prevention programmes in secondary schools, and mandatory drug testing for new and returning students in tertiary institutions, complemented by random screening.
“The fight against substance abuse is a fight for the soul of our children,” Marwa said, warning that drug use fuels national insecurity and youth delinquency, with direct links to crimes such as terrorism and banditry. He revealed that the NDLEA had arrested over 40,000 offenders and seized more than 5,500 metric tonnes of illicit substances over the past two years.
Minister Alausa welcomed the proposals, stressing the urgent need to address the impact of drug abuse on academic performance and youth employability.
“When youths get into drugs, they don’t attend school regularly, and even when they do, they’re not receiving a functional education. Their ability to think critically is diminished, and they end up unemployable,” Alausa stated.
He affirmed that the government would begin implementing drug tests in tertiary institutions without delay, declaring, “We will do it. We have to do it. We do not have a choice.”
To support implementation, Alausa proposed the creation of a joint technical working group between the Ministry of Education and the NDLEA. He also confirmed that the ongoing secondary school curriculum review would include comprehensive drug education, with plans to extend it to the primary school level.
The minister further pledged support for the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, promising collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to enhance training and capacity-building.
This partnership signals a new era in Nigeria’s fight against drug abuse, positioning educational institutions as central actors in national prevention efforts.
