The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Federal Ministry of Education have agreed to implement mandatory drug integrity tests for students in tertiary institutions and revise the secondary school curriculum to include drug education.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), and Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in Abuja on Wednesday.
Marwa praised the minister’s proactive approach and stressed the urgent need to curb substance abuse among Nigeria’s youth. He emphasized that the fight against drugs is also a fight to safeguard the future of the country, warning that drug use fuels insecurity, including terrorism and banditry.
“Our children are at the heart of this crisis,” Marwa said. “Without drugs, many of these criminal activities wouldn’t be possible. This partnership is critical to protecting their future.”
He added that with the backing of President Bola Tinubu, the NDLEA has, over the past two years, arrested 40,887 suspects, secured 8,682 convictions, and seized 5,507 metric tons of illicit drugs.
In response, the minister described the drug crisis as a major challenge that must be addressed decisively.
He proposed the formation of a technical and inter-ministerial working group between the ministry and the NDLEA to drive collaborative efforts.
