The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Federal Ministry of Education have reached an agreement on the introduction of compulsory and random drug integrity tests for students in tertiary institutions as well as integrating drug education into secondary schools across the country.

The NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, reached the agreement during a high-level meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

The decision is part of a broader initiative to combat the growing problem of substance abuse among young Nigerians, according to a statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, on Wednesday.

Marwa, according to the statement, described the drug scourge as a threat to national security and youth development, citing its links to criminal activities such as terrorism and banditry.

He disclosed that the agency had arrested over 40,000 drug offenders and seized more than 5,500 metric tons of drugs in the past two years.

“We are fighting for the souls of our children. Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible,” he said.

Marwa then proposed a three-pronged approach to tackling the issue.

“The first suggestion we have is for a review of the drug education curriculum in secondary schools,” Marwa said. “Even though we’re told of the existence of this in the past, but because of the complexity of drugs, the dynamism of it, and the new psychoactive substances that have come to play, we feel that it is time to consider a review of this drug education curriculum.”

Secondly, he anti-narcotics agency chief proposed the introduction of stand-alone drug abuse prevention programmes in secondary schools, separate from the curriculum.

“These would be programmes that stand on their own, lectures, competitions, and activities involving parents,” he said.

He further advocated for the adoption of a drug testing policy in tertiary institutions, stressing the importance of keeping campuses clean.

“Several vice chancellors have come on their own to seek both our guidance and participation in conducting drug tests for their students,” Marwa said.

“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,” he said.

In his response, Education Minister Alausa acknowledged the enormity of the problem and the need to tackle it urgently.

“When the youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school, and even when they go to school, they are not getting a functional education. And at the end of the day, what happens? Their level of critical thinking is lower. Their ability to make informed decisions in the later part of their life becomes significantly reduced. So, they become unemployable. And what happens? You now have that vicious cycle. They’re not functional,” Alausa said.

He also agreed to drug testing for fresh and returning students in tertiary institutions, saying, “We will do it. 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.”

The minister announced the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the ministry and also confirmed that a revised curriculum for secondary schools was in the works.

“I would suggest we form a technical working group, an inter-ministerial working group between our ministry and NDLEA. As a result, I would also like to create a Substance Use Prevention Unit in the ministry,” Alausa said.

“We’re reviewing the curriculum now for secondary school. And that’s why I’ve asked the director of Senior Secondary School to come, to be here and then we find a way to cascade it down to primary school. We need to incorporate both primary and secondary schools into their curriculum. But the one for secondary school, we can definitely do that now. We’re currently developing their new curriculum.

“Also, on the stand-alone school programmes, I agree with you fully. We should also design ongoing programmes in our schools. That we can roll out, and cascade down,” he said.

The minister also pledged to work with UBEC and TETFUND to support the NDLEA Academy in Jos.