NDLEA and Education Ministry unveil ambitious plan to curb youth substance abuse
In a decisive step against rising substance abuse among young Nigerians, the Federal Government has confirmed the launch of compulsory drug testing in tertiary institutions and the integration of drug education into secondary school curricula nationwide.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the new measures following a high-level meeting in Abuja between NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) and the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa.
A Fight for the Soul of the Nation -Brig. Gen. Marwa
Brig. Gen. Marwa emphasized the gravity of the drug problem among students:
“The fight against illicit drugs is a fight for the souls of the Nigerian youth.”
He stressed that millions of children under the Ministry’s care remain vulnerable to drug-related risks, warning that a strong intervention at the school level is long overdue.
Three-Point Strategy to Safeguard Youths
NDLEA and the Education Ministry outlined the policy’s core pillars:
1. Curriculum Review: Modernizing secondary school drug education to reflect emerging psychoactive substances and current abuse patterns.
2. Standalone Prevention Programs: Introducing activities such as lectures, competitions, and student-parent sessions to deepen awareness and resilience.
3. Mandatory Drug Testing in Universities: Implemented for fresh intakes, students returning from breaks, and at random intervals. The deterrence-focused approach will prioritize rehabilitation over punishment.
Education Ministry’s Full Support
Education Minister Dr. Maruf Alausa endorsed the initiative, highlighting the long-term societal costs of unchecked drug use:
“Drug abuse among students impairs learning, weakens critical thinking, and fosters dysfunction and criminal pathways.”
To strengthen implementation, the Ministry will establish a Substance Use Prevention Unit and a joint technical working group with NDLEA. A national curriculum overhaul is already underway to integrate these reforms across primary and secondary schools.
Relevance of this Initiative
This initiative responds to alarming prevalence data:
- Studies estimate that 20–40% of secondary and tertiary students in Nigeria engage in drug misuse.
- In Lagos State alone, 13.6% of secondary school students have tried drugs, with 6.9% as active users.
- Commonly abused substances include alcohol, cannabis, codeine syrup, tranquilizers, tobacco, and tramadol, with new trends emerging rapidly across school-aged populations.
The Bigger Picture
The policy roll-out is expected to commence with pilot programs in selected institutions, gradually scaling up to all schools nationwide. Key stakeholders—educators, health practitioners, civil society groups—are poised to collaborate.
This represents a critical pivot in Nigeria’s approach to youth substance abuse: one that combines education, prevention, and enforcement with compassion and strategy. Rather than just punitive discipline, the policy emphasizes rehabilitation, behavioral correction, and safeguarding futures.