The Federal Government has endorsed the implementation of compulsory drug testing for students in tertiary institutions nationwide as part of a broader effort to combat substance abuse among Nigerian youth.

 

This decision emerged from a meeting on Wednesday in Abuja between the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, and the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd).

 

The meeting focused on urgent measures to address the growing drug abuse problem in schools. According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the agency proposed a three-pronged approach: revising the drug education curriculum in schools, introducing stand-alone drug prevention programmes in secondary schools, and enforcing drug testing policies in tertiary institutions for both new and returning students — including random tests.

 

General Marwa warned that drug abuse poses a serious threat to national security and youth development, highlighting its role in enabling crimes such as terrorism and banditry. He noted that over the past two years, NDLEA had arrested more than 40,000 drug offenders and seized over 5,500 metric tons of drugs.

 

“We are fighting for the souls of our children,” Marwa said. “Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible.”

 

In response, Minister Alausa acknowledged the critical impact of drug abuse on education, stating, “When youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school, and even when they do, they’re not receiving a functional education. Their ability to think critically and make informed decisions is reduced, making them unemployable and trapped in a cycle of dysfunction.”

 

He confirmed that drug testing would be introduced in tertiary institutions for all categories of students. “We will do it. We have no choice,” Alausa stressed.

 

He also announced plans to establish a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the Ministry of Education and revealed that a revised secondary school curriculum to incorporate drug education is underway.

 

Both parties agreed that the anti-drug campaign should extend beyond tertiary institutions to secondary and even primary schools. An inter-ministerial technical working group is being formed to drive the initiative forward.