Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has endorsed the introduction of compulsory and random drug tests for students in tertiary institutions as part of efforts to combat the rising wave of substance abuse among Nigerian youth.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this following a strategic meeting on Wednesday in Abuja with the Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd).
In a statement released by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the minister expressed full support for the agency’s three-pronged strategy:
Revising drug education in school curricula,
Introducing dedicated drug abuse prevention programmes, and
Implementing a comprehensive drug testing policy in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Random and Mandatory Drug Tests Coming to Campuses
According to the minister, all new and returning students in tertiary institutions will be subject to drug testing, with random tests also scheduled throughout the academic calendar.
“We have to do it. We don’t have a choice,” Alausa said. “The issue of drugs among students is directly affecting education, employability, and national development. We must act decisively.”
Dr. Alausa stressed that substance abuse impairs critical thinking, decision-making, and academic performance, making young people less competitive in the labor market and more susceptible to criminal influences.
Curriculum Overhaul and Prevention Initiatives
In response to the NDLEA’s proposals, Alausa confirmed the ministry is currently reviewing the secondary school curriculum to embed robust drug education content. A Substance Use Prevention Unit will also be established within the Ministry of Education to drive policy implementation and monitoring.
“We’re developing a revised curriculum for secondary schools,” the minister said. “Eventually, this will be cascaded down to primary education. Prevention must begin early.”
Alausa proposed forming an inter-ministerial technical working group between the Ministry of Education and NDLEA to coordinate efforts and design scalable school programmes targeting substance abuse prevention nationwide.
NDLEA Warns of National Security Threat
Speaking earlier, Gen. Marwa described the drug epidemic as a national emergency, linking substance abuse to terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes.
“We are fighting for the very souls of our children,” Marwa said. “Without drugs, most of the criminal activities ravaging our country would not be possible.”
He disclosed that in the past two years, the NDLEA has arrested over 40,000 drug offenders and seized more than 5,500 metric tonnes of illicit drugs.
Support for NDLEA Academy and Broader Collaboration
The minister pledged to collaborate with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to strengthen the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, enhancing its capacity to train educators and counselors in drug prevention strategies.
This move marks a significant policy shift toward tackling drug abuse as both an educational and public health crisis. It signals stronger collaboration between law enforcement, educators, and institutions in safeguarding the future of Nigeria’s youth.
