The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has endorsed mandatory and random drug tests for students in tertiary institutions nationwide.
This followed a meeting in Abuja with NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd), where they discussed strategies to tackle substance abuse among students.
According to NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the minister also approved a review of the secondary school curriculum to include updated drug education and proposed forming an inter-ministerial working group with the NDLEA.
In a statement released yesterday, July 31, 2025, Babafemi said Marwa proposed a three-part approach: revising drug education in schools, introducing stand-alone drug prevention programmes in secondary schools, and enforcing drug testing in tertiary institutions targeting new, returning, and randomly selected students.
Marwa described drug abuse as a threat to national security and youth development, linking it to terrorism and other crimes. He said the NDLEA had arrested over 40,000 drug offenders and seized more than 5,500 metric tonnes of drugs in the last two years.
Alausa emphasized the harmful effects of drug use on students, noting it reduces critical thinking, decision-making, and employability. He confirmed that drug testing will be implemented in all tertiary institutions.
He also announced the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the ministry and confirmed ongoing curriculum reforms to integrate drug education into both primary and secondary schools.
The minister further pledged to support the NDLEA Academy in Jos through partnerships with UBEC and TETFund.