Varsity Students to Undergo Drug Testing, Says Education Minister

The Federal Government is set to introduce mandatory and random drug tests for students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, according to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. The announcement was made following a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), where both parties discussed strategies to combat rising drug abuse among students.

Alausa expressed strong support for the NDLEA’s proposed three-pronged strategy to tackle drug use: revising drug education content in schools, introducing stand-alone drug abuse prevention programmes in secondary schools, and implementing a drug testing policy in universities and other higher institutions. The policy would cover new and returning students as well as random testing during the academic year.

Describing the drug problem as a national security threat, Marwa highlighted the link between substance abuse and criminal activities including terrorism and banditry. He revealed that over the past two years, the NDLEA had arrested more than 40,000 drug offenders and confiscated over 5,500 metric tonnes of drugs. “We are fighting for the souls of our children,” he said. “Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible.”

The education minister echoed these concerns, stressing the long-term damage drug abuse causes to students’ academic and cognitive development. “When the youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school, and even when they go to school, they are not getting a functional education,” Alausa said. “Their ability to make informed decisions in the later part of their life becomes significantly reduced. So, they become unemployable. And what happens? You now have that vicious cycle.”

Alausa announced the formation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the Ministry of Education and confirmed that a revised secondary school curriculum is already in development. He added that plans are in motion to integrate drug education into both primary and secondary school levels. “We’re reviewing the curriculum now for secondary school. That’s why I’ve asked the Director of Senior Secondary School to be here so we can find a way to cascade it down to primary school,” he said.

In addition, the minister called for the establishment of a technical inter-ministerial working group between the Ministry of Education and the NDLEA. He also pledged collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to support the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State.