In a bold move to tackle drug abuse among Nigerian youths, the Federal Government and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have agreed to introduce compulsory drug integrity tests for students in tertiary institutions.
The initiative aims to cleanse campuses of substance abuse and promote a drug-free academic environment.
This was revealed during a high-level meeting in Abuja between NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), and the Minister of Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu.
The two leaders also agreed to review the national secondary school curriculum to include updated drug education content in response to the rise of new psychoactive substances.
Marwa, who commended the Education Ministry’s readiness to collaborate, stressed that substance abuse is at the core of many security challenges in Nigeria, including terrorism and violent crimes.
He added that over 40,000 drug-related arrests and more than 8,600 convictions had been secured in the last two years under President Tinubu’s administration.
He also revealed ongoing plans to establish new rehabilitation centres across the country.
Responding, Minister Sununu welcomed the proposed reforms and highlighted how drug abuse disrupts learning, lowers critical thinking, and contributes to unemployment and criminality among young people.
He suggested forming an inter-ministerial technical working group to drive the implementation of the joint strategies. “We must break the cycle,” he emphasized.
