The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has expressed strong support for the introduction of mandatory and random drug integrity tests in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, as part of broader efforts to combat rising drug abuse among students.
This follows a strategic meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), where both leaders discussed urgent reforms to curb substance abuse in educational institutions.
In a statement by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Dr. Alausa also approved a comprehensive review of the secondary school curriculum to integrate updated drug education. He committed to forming an inter-ministerial working group between the Ministry of Education and the NDLEA, and announced the establishment of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the ministry.
During the meeting, Gen. Marwa proposed a three-pronged strategy to tackle drug abuse in the education sector. This includes revising drug education content at all levels of schooling, introducing dedicated drug abuse prevention initiatives in secondary schools, and conducting drug integrity tests for new and returning tertiary institution students, along with random screenings.
Marwa warned that drug abuse poses a significant threat to national security and youth development, linking it to rising crime, 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 drugs in the last two years.
“We are fighting for the souls of our children. Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible,” he stated.
In response, Dr. Alausa stressed the urgency of the crisis and the government’s resolve to act decisively.
“When young people get into drugs, they stop attending school. Even when they do, they’re not receiving functional education,” he said. “Their ability to think critically and make informed life decisions is severely impaired. Ultimately, they become unemployable, creating a vicious cycle of dysfunction.”
The minister confirmed that drug testing would be implemented in tertiary institutions for both fresh and returning students, as well as through random testing protocols.
“We have to do it. We don’t have a choice. At least we’ll start with tertiary institutions,” Alausa affirmed.
Dr. Alausa also disclosed that the Ministry is currently reviewing the secondary school curriculum to integrate drug education. He indicated that efforts would be extended to primary schools in due course.
“We’re working on a new curriculum for secondary schools right now. That’s why I asked the Director of Senior Secondary Education to join this conversation, so we can find a way to cascade it down to primary schools,” he said.
He also endorsed the introduction of ongoing, school-wide prevention programs and pledged to collaborate with agencies such as the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to support the NDLEA’s training academy in Jos, Plateau State.
