The Federal Government has approved the introduction of compulsory and random drug tests for students in tertiary institutions nationwide, as part of renewed efforts to curb substance abuse among young Nigerians.
This decision was announced following a high-level meeting 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), held in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to a statement released by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the meeting resulted in the adoption of a comprehensive strategy targeting drug use in tertiary institutions. The Minister also committed to revising the current secondary school curriculum to incorporate robust drug education, alongside the establishment of a dedicated Substance Use Prevention Unit within the Ministry of Education.
Marwa, who presented a three-pronged proposal during the meeting, called for: A revision of drug education content across educational levels, introduction of stand-alone drug prevention programmes in secondary schools, implementation of mandatory drug testing policies for students in tertiary institutions including new and returning students, as well as random sampling.
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Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Marwa described substance abuse as a major threat to national security and youth development, noting its connection to criminal activities such as terrorism and banditry.
“We are fighting for the souls of our children. Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible,” he stated. He further disclosed that the agency had arrested over 40,000 drug offenders and seized more than 5,500 metric tonnes of illicit substances in the past two years.
Responding, Dr. Alausa expressed full support for the proposed measures, emphasizing the impact of drug abuse on academic performance and long-term employability.
“When youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school, and even when they do, they’re not getting a functional education. Their level of critical thinking is lowered, and they become unemployable,” the minister said.
He confirmed that drug testing would be rolled out across tertiary institutions, starting with incoming and returning students. “We will do it. We have to do it. We do not have a choice,” Alausa asserted.
To ensure effective implementation, the minister proposed the formation of an inter-ministerial technical working group between the Ministry of Education and the NDLEA. He also revealed that the secondary school curriculum is currently undergoing a review, with plans to cascade drug education down to the primary level.
In support of the NDLEA’s institutional capacity-building efforts, Alausa pledged to collaborate with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to strengthen the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State.
The partnership marks a significant shift in the government’s approach to tackling drug abuse, placing schools at the forefront of early intervention and prevention strategies.
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