In a bold move to combat rising substance abuse among Nigerian youth, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Federal Ministry of Education have agreed to integrate drug education into school curricula and implement mandatory drug integrity tests in tertiary institutions across the country.
The agreement was reached on Wednesday, July 30, during a high-level meeting in Abuja between NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), and the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa.
Speaking at the meeting, Marwa emphasized the urgent need for collaboration with the education sector in tackling drug abuse, which he described as a threat to national security and the future of Nigerian youth.
“The drug scourge in Nigeria is real. We are fighting for the soul of our children. Substance abuse fuels crimes such as terrorism, banditry, and other violent activities. Without drugs, many of these criminal acts would not be committed,” Marwa said.
He revealed that with support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NDLEA has arrested 40,887 drug offenders in the last two years, secured 8,682 convictions, and seized over 5,507 metric tonnes of illicit drugs, including more than one billion tramadol pills worth over ₦1 trillion.
Marwa outlined three critical areas of proposed collaboration with the Ministry of Education: Curriculum Review – The integration of updated drug education into secondary and primary school curricula to reflect the evolving landscape of substance abuse and new psychoactive substances.
Stand-Alone School Programmes – Introduction of dedicated drug prevention programmes in schools, including lectures, competitions, and parental engagement and Drug Testing in Universities – Implementation of mandatory drug integrity tests for new and returning students in tertiary institutions, along with random testing to promote deterrence.
In response, Minister Alausa applauded Marwa’s dedication to national service and expressed full support for the proposed initiatives.
“When young people use drugs, they cannot focus in school, their education becomes non-functional, and their critical thinking is impaired. This leads to unemployment, criminality, and dysfunctional families. We must tackle this menace head-on,” Alausa stated.
He announced the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the Ministry and proposed the formation of an inter-ministerial technical working group to drive the collaboration.
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The Minister also confirmed that the secondary school curriculum is currently under review and assured that drug education would be incorporated immediately. He further committed to rolling out stand-alone programmes in schools and enforcing the drug test policy across universities.
“We will start with tertiary institutions. Fresh students, returning students, and random testing will be part of the policy. We don’t have a choice; we must protect our youth,” he said.
Additionally, Alausa pledged to involve key educational agencies such as the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) in supporting NDLEA’s drug education drive, including collaboration with the NDLEA Academy in Jos.
Following the Minister’s directive, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Abel Oluwamuyiwa Enitan, officially announced the establishment of the new Substance Use Prevention Unit, marking the beginning of a new era in Nigeria’s fight against drug abuse through the education sector.
