The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Federal Ministry of Education have agreed to integrate drug education into the school curriculum and introduce drug testing for students in tertiary institutions as part of a new collaboration to address substance abuse among young Nigerians.

According to a statement issued by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the agreement was reached during a meeting held on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Abuja, where NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), led a delegation of senior officials to meet with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

Marwa, during the meeting, expressed concern over the scale of drug abuse in the country and its implications for youth development and national security.

“There are millions of our children that are under the supervision of this ministry, and it’s very critical. The drug scourge, as we all know, is very high in Nigeria,” he said.

He linked the widespread use of drugs to insecurity, noting that many criminal activities such as terrorism and banditry are enabled by drug use. “We know that without drugs, they wouldn’t be able to do what they are doing, because they wouldn’t do all these criminal activities in their right senses,” he said.

Marwa said that since 2023, the agency had made over 40,000 arrests, secured 8,682 convictions, and seized more than 5,500 metric tons of illicit drugs, including over one billion pills of opioids. He also stated that President Bola Tinubu had approved the establishment of rehabilitation centres across the country, including a model facility in each geopolitical zone.

He proposed three main areas of collaboration with the Education Ministry: revising the drug education curriculum for secondary schools, introducing stand-alone prevention programmes such as lectures and competitions, and adopting a drug testing policy for tertiary institutions.

According to Marwa, “What we are suggesting now is drug tests for new students, for students returning from vacations, and random tests. This will make the children avoid taking drugs, knowing fully well that if they do and they are found out, there will be consequences. And the consequences do not necessarily mean rustication.”

Responding, the Minister of Education acknowledged the challenges posed by drug abuse and its impact on education outcomes and future employability. “When the youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school, and even when they go to school, they are not getting functional education,” Alausa said.

He expressed support for the proposed initiatives and announced plans to form an inter-ministerial technical working group with the NDLEA. “I would suggest we form a technical working group, inter-ministerial working group between our ministry and NDLEA,” he said.

He also disclosed plans to establish a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the ministry. “We’re reviewing the curriculum now for secondary school… We need to get both primary school and secondary school and add this to their curriculum,” he said.

On the issue of drug testing in tertiary institutions, the Minister said, “We have to do it. We do not have a choice. At least, we’ll start with tertiary institutions, for their fresh and returning students as well as random testing.”

He added that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) would be directed to work with the NDLEA Academy in Jos to support drug education efforts at all levels.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Abel Oluwamuyiwa Enitan, later confirmed the launch of the Substance Use Prevention Unit during his vote of thanks. (The Guardian)

• PHOTO: Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd); Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan (middle) flanked by top officials of NDLEA and the Federal Ministry of Education, during a meeting on collaboration between the Ministry and NDLEA on the ongoing efforts against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking at the Federal Secretariat Abuja on Wednesday 30th July 2025