By Charles Pemu 
Abuja– The Federal Government has approved the implementation of compulsory and random drug integrity tests for students in tertiary institutions across the country. This was disclosed following a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday between the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd).
In a statement released by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the move is part of a comprehensive strategy to curb rising substance abuse among Nigerian youth. The minister also gave his backing to a planned overhaul of the current secondary school curriculum to integrate updated drug education, while announcing the formation of an inter-ministerial working group between the Ministry of Education and the NDLEA.
During the meeting, Marwa described the drug crisis as a national emergency and a direct threat to both security and youth development. He revealed that over 40,000 drug offenders had been arrested and more than 5,500 metric tonnes of narcotics seized by the agency in the past two years. According to him, without drug abuse, many of the criminal activities currently plaguing the country would not exist. “We are fighting for the souls of our children,” he said.
Responding, Dr. Alausa emphasized the urgency of the problem, warning that substance abuse among students was undermining educational outcomes and long-term productivity. He noted that when young people become dependent on drugs, their critical thinking skills are impaired, and they are often unable to complete their education or secure meaningful employment. “At the end of the day, what happens? They’re not functional,” he said.
The education minister confirmed that drug tests would be administered to both fresh and returning students in tertiary institutions, with additional provisions for random testing. He stated that the government had no choice but to act decisively and would begin implementation from the higher education level. Alausa also announced the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the ministry to drive long-term education reform.
He further revealed that the ministry is currently reviewing the secondary school curriculum and intends to embed drug education as a permanent feature. Efforts will be made to extend the reforms to primary schools as well. Dr. Alausa pledged the government’s support for stand-alone, ongoing anti-drug programs in schools, which would be implemented nationwide once finalized.
In addition, the minister committed to working with the Universal Basic Education Commission and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to support the NDLEA’s capacity-building efforts, particularly its training academy located in Jos, Plateau State.
This multi-pronged initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education and NDLEA, is seen as a significant step toward curbing the spread of drug abuse among Nigerian students and reinforcing the government’s commitment to safe and functional learning environments across the country.