According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the initiative includes drug testing for freshers, returning students, and random selections.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has approved the introduction of compulsory and random drug integrity tests for students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
This was disclosed on Wednesday following a meeting in Abuja with the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd).
According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the initiative includes drug testing for freshers, returning students, and random selections.
“We have to do it. We do not have a choice,” Alausa stated.
He also approved the formation of a technical working group with NDLEA and announced the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the ministry.
Marwa warned that drug abuse among youth poses a national security threat. “We are fighting for the souls of our children. Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible,” he said.
He revealed that NDLEA had arrested over 40,000 drug offenders and seized more than 5,500 metric tonnes of drugs in the past two years.
Alausa further committed to revising the secondary school curriculum and collaborating with UBEC and TETFUND to support NDLEA’s training academy.