The Federal Government has approved compulsory and random drug tests for students in universities and other tertiary institutions as part of efforts to curb substance abuse.
Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, announced the decision after meeting with NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), in Abuja on Wednesday.
“We will start drug tests for fresh and returning students in tertiary institutions, as well as random testing. We have no choice,” Alausa said.
He also backed plans to update the secondary school curriculum to include stronger drug education and confirmed the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit in the Ministry of Education.
Marwa, highlighting the urgency, said over 40,000 drug offenders have been arrested and 5,500 metric tons of drugs seized in the last two years.
“We are fighting for the souls of our children. Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible,” he said.
Both parties agreed to set up an inter-ministerial working group and develop stand-alone drug abuse prevention programmes for secondary schools.
