The Federal Government has announced plans to implement mandatory and random drug integrity tests for students in tertiary institutions across the country.
This development was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, following a strategic meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the policy is part of a broader effort to combat rising cases of substance abuse among Nigerian youths.
Dr. Alausa stated that the government will begin with compulsory testing for both fresh and returning students in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, with provisions for random testing throughout the academic year.
“We will do it. We have to do it. We don’t have a choice,” the minister said, emphasizing the detrimental effects of drug abuse on students’ academic performance and employability.
“When youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school. Even if they go, they are not getting a functional education. Their level of critical thinking drops, and eventually, they become unemployable,” he said.
The NDLEA boss, Brig. Gen. Marwa, had earlier proposed a three-pronged approach: revising drug education content in schools, introducing standalone drug prevention programs in secondary schools, and enforcing a drug testing policy in tertiary institutions.
He highlighted the severe impact of drug abuse on national security, linking it to increased criminal activities such as terrorism and banditry.
Marwa revealed that over 40,000 drug-related arrests and more than 5,500 metric tonnes of drug seizures were made by the agency in the past two years.
In response, Dr. Alausa approved the immediate review of the secondary school curriculum to incorporate comprehensive drug education.
He also announced the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the Ministry of Education to coordinate policy implementation and school-based interventions.
The minister, further disclosed plans to work with key agencies such as the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to support the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State.
A joint inter-ministerial technical working group between the education ministry and the NDLEA will also be set up to drive the initiative.
The government’s renewed commitment underscores a nationwide campaign to safeguard the mental and academic well-being of Nigerian students and ensure a drug-free learning environment.
