The Federal Government plans to implement mandatory drug testing for university students and revise the secondary school curriculum to incorporate drug education, aiming to address the increasing substance abuse crisis among young Nigerians.
This development was made known in a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Federal Ministry of Education reached the agreement during a meeting in Abuja between NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa.
Marwa highlighted the serious impact of drug abuse on Nigerian youths and stressed the importance of starting preventive efforts within the school system. He described the collaboration with the Ministry of Education as crucial in addressing the issue from its roots.
He proposed a three-point strategy to tackle the challenge, starting with a review of the existing drug education curriculum in secondary schools. He noted that despite earlier efforts, changes in drug trends and the emergence of new psychoactive substances made a curriculum update necessary.Secondly, he suggested stand-alone drug abuse prevention programmes in schools—initiatives outside the academic syllabus that would include lectures, competitions, and active parent involvement.
Lastly, Marwa called for the introduction of a drug testing policy in tertiary institutions. He explained that several university vice chancellors had already requested NDLEA’s assistance in conducting such tests. He proposed tests for fresh students, those returning from holidays, and occasional random testing—not necessarily as a means of punishment, but as a deterrent to drug use.
In response, the Minister of Education praised Marwa’s commitment and acknowledged that youth involvement in drugs contributes significantly to academic failure and long-term national problems. He stressed that drug abuse impairs learning, weakens critical thinking, hampers decision-making, and reduces employability, creating a lasting impact on the country’s future.
Source : https://nairametrics.com/
