The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has thrown his weight behind the implementation of compulsory and random drug integrity tests for students in tertiary institutions nationwide.
This move followed a strategic meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), aimed at addressing the growing threat of substance abuse among students.
According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the minister also approved a comprehensive review of the secondary school curriculum to incorporate enhanced drug education. He further pledged the formation of an inter-ministerial working group in collaboration with the NDLEA to drive the initiative.
Marwa, during the meeting, proposed a three-pronged strategy: the overhaul of drug education in schools, the introduction of dedicated drug prevention programmes at the secondary level, and the enforcement of drug tests for tertiary students—targeting both new and returning students, with provisions for random testing.
