Federal Government Approves Mandatory Drug Tests for Tertiary Students in Fight Against Substance Abuse

Nigerian youth, the Federal Government has officially endorsed the introduction of mandatory and random drug integrity tests for students in tertiary institutions. This initiative, which was unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, forms a critical part of a multi-pronged strategy designed to safeguard educational institutions and protect the country’s future workforce from the damaging effects of drugs.

The announcement was made during a strategic meeting in Abuja with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd). The session marked a turning point in Nigeria’s education and public health sectors, reflecting a unified government response to the rising tide of substance abuse among students.

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According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, Dr. Alausa did not only back the drug testing policy but also approved a comprehensive review of the secondary school curriculum to integrate updated drug education content. In addition, a new inter-ministerial working group, which includes the NDLEA and the Ministry of Education, is to be established to ensure coordinated implementation of these reforms.

Brig. Gen. Marwa, while outlining the NDLEA’s framework, emphasized a three-tiered approach to tackling the issue: revamping school drug education curricula, launching standalone drug prevention programs in secondary schools, and implementing mandatory and random drug tests in universities and colleges.

Describing the scale of the challenge, Marwa warned that drug abuse is a serious national security threat. “We are fighting for the souls of our children. Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible,” he said, linking drug addiction to the spread of terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry. He revealed that in the last two years alone, the agency had arrested more than 40,000 drug offenders and confiscated over 5,500 metric tonnes of illicit substances.

Dr. Alausa echoed the urgency of Marwa’s concerns, noting the devastating impact of drug use on education and youth development. “When the youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school, and even when they go, they are not getting a functional education. Their critical thinking becomes impaired, their ability to make informed decisions is reduced, and they become unemployable. That creates a vicious cycle. They’re not functional,” he stated.

The minister firmly backed the implementation of drug tests, asserting, “You also said something very important about the drug test policy in tertiary institutions. We will do it. We have to do it. We do not have a choice. At least, we’ll start with tertiary institutions, for their fresh and returning students as well as random testing.”

Substance Use Prevention Now a Core Focus

As part of the broader initiative, the Ministry of Education will establish a new Substance Use Prevention Unit. This department will coordinate with stakeholders, including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), to ensure sustained funding and policy support. Alausa confirmed that this unit would also work alongside the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, to train personnel in drug prevention education.

Furthermore, the education ministry is already reviewing the secondary school curriculum to embed drug education at an early age. “We’re reviewing the curriculum now for secondary schools, and we’ll cascade it down to primary schools. For secondary schools, we can do it immediately,” Alausa said, advocating a preventative approach to drug use that begins from the foundational stages of education.

This policy shift is expected to have wide-reaching effects across Nigeria’s education system. With schools at all levels being enlisted in the battle against drugs, the government aims to not only reduce addiction rates but also enhance the quality of education and safety within learning environments.

The NDLEA has long called for tougher measures to combat the rising use of substances such as tramadol, cannabis, codeine, and crystal meth among teenagers and young adults. These efforts are now gaining institutional support at the highest levels of government.

With these sweeping reforms, Nigeria is poised to send a strong message: that the nation will no longer tolerate the infiltration of its schools and campuses by the drug epidemic. This integrated, preventative approach may prove pivotal in reversing a trend that threatens the country’s educational and social fabric.