Random Drug Tests for Varsity Students Approved

The Federal Government has approved mandatory and random drug tests for students in Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, gave the approval during a meeting in Abuja with the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), as part of efforts to tackle drug abuse among young people.

The plan includes testing all new and returning students, as well as conducting random screenings throughout the academic year.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the initiative is part of a three-step strategy:

1. Updating drug education in school curricula,

2. Introducing special anti-drug programmes in secondary schools,

3. Enforcing drug testing in tertiary institutions.

Marwa, who described drug abuse as a major threat to youth development and national security, revealed that over 40,000 drug offenders have been arrested and more than 5,500 metric tonnes of drugs seized in the past two years.