The agreement between the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to introduce compulsory drug testing for students in tertiary institutions across the country has been described as a good development.
Speaking on the matter, the Anambra State Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Pharmacists Henry Iloh, said that the fear of being caught is enough to scare the newbies who want to try drug, adding that that will definitely reduce the burden of drug addiction and abuse.
Pharmacist Iloh however expressed the concern that the compulsory drug test may violate fundamental human rights of the students.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who announced the development in a communique dated July 30, said the plan follows a meeting between the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and the Chairman of the NDLEA Buba Marwa.
He explained that in the meeting, both parties agreed on the need to tackle the rising threat of substance abuse among undergraduates.
According to the NDLEA, the initiative will integrate drug education into the revised secondary school curriculum, and the rollout of standalone drug prevention programmes in schools.
Marwa, who led the NDLEA management team to the meeting in Abuja, described drug abuse as a national security threat, linking it to terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes.
Responding, the Education Minister, Alausa, commended the NDLEA’s efforts and expressed concern over the long-term impact of drug abuse on young people.
To fast-track implementation, Alausa proposed the establishment of a technical working group comprising the NDLEA and the education ministry, and announced the creation of a new substance use prevention unit within the ministry.
The minister directed that drug education be integrated into the ongoing review of the secondary school curriculum.