Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has thrown his support behind the introduction of mandatory and random drug tests for students in tertiary institutions nationwide, as part of broader efforts to tackle substance abuse among youths.
This follows a strategic meeting on Wednesday in Abuja with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), during which both parties discussed a multi-faceted approach to address drug use in schools.
According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the minister also approved a review of the secondary school curriculum to integrate modern drug education. Additionally, he announced plans to establish a dedicated Substance Use Prevention Unit within the ministry and proposed an inter-ministerial working group in collaboration with the NDLEA.
Marwa proposed a three-pronged strategy: revising school drug education content, launching stand-alone drug abuse prevention programmes in secondary schools, and instituting a drug testing policy for tertiary institutions targeting new, returning, and randomly selected students.
Highlighting the national threat posed by drug abuse, Marwa cited its link to crimes such as terrorism and banditry. He revealed that the NDLEA had arrested over 40,000 drug offenders and seized more than 5,500 metric tonnes of illicit substances in the past two years.
“We are fighting for the souls of our children. Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible,” Marwa stated.
Dr. Alausa echoed this concern, stressing the damaging impact of drug use on education and future prospects.
“When youths get into drugs, they stop attending school, or even when they do, they’re unable to gain a functional education,” he said. “This lowers their critical thinking, impairs decision-making later in life, and makes them unemployable—creating a vicious cycle.”
He confirmed that the drug testing policy would be implemented in tertiary institutions, starting with fresh and returning students and expanding to random testing.
“We have no choice. We must do it,” Alausa affirmed.
The minister also committed to incorporating drug education into both primary and secondary school curricula and pledged collaboration with 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.
He concluded by backing the creation of ongoing, school-based drug prevention programmes and emphasized the urgency of cascading these initiatives throughout the education system.
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