The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has reiterated the agency’s push for drug integrity tests for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, prospective couples, and other groups, emphasizing that the initiative is not punitive but preventive.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the NYSC Director General, Brig Gen Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, Marwa described the drug test initiative as a key strategy in the fight against drug abuse.
He noted that drug abuse remains a widespread issue in Nigeria, revealing that one in seven Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 use drugs. “The drug scourge has continued to devastate our kids, families, communities—everywhere,” Marwa said. “There’s nowhere in the country you go where you don’t see a drug abuse problem.”
The NDLEA boss lauded NYSC for establishing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) clubs in orientation camps, calling the initiative a step in the right direction. He urged the scheme to further strengthen its collaboration with the NDLEA by implementing drug integrity tests for corps members.
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Marwa also advocated for mandatory drug tests for intending couples, stressing that early detection of substance use can prevent addiction and its accompanying mental health issues.
As part of the proposed collaboration, he suggested that corps members with academic backgrounds in Guidance and Counselling, Psychology, Nursing, and Psychiatry be posted to NDLEA’s Counselling and Treatment Centres for their primary assignments. This, he said, would provide them with valuable experience in rehabilitation and psychosocial support services.
In response, the NYSC DG, Brig Gen Nafiu, commended the drug integrity test initiative, describing it as “fantastic.” He promised to carefully review the proposal and work towards enhanced collaboration between both institutions.
He also assured that NYSC would develop guidelines to deploy qualified corps members to NDLEA facilities across the country, reinforcing the partnership and supporting the national campaign against drug abuse.
