The federal government is taking a decisive step to address the growing issue of substance abuse among Nigerian youths. In a joint initiative between the education ministry and the national drug enforcement agency, mandatory drug integrity testing will soon be introduced in all tertiary institutions. The policy will cover freshers, returning students, and will also include random testing throughout the academic calendar.
As part of the broader strategy, secondary school curricula will be revised to include detailed drug education modules. The goal is to introduce early awareness, equipping students with knowledge and life skills to resist drug use before they transition into adulthood.
The decision was reached at a high-level meeting in Abuja between senior officials from both agencies. The head of the drug agency warned that substance abuse among the youth population is fueling serious security concerns, including terrorism, kidnapping, and armed robbery. He revealed that in just two years, over 40,000 suspects had been arrested for drug-related offenses, and more than 5,500 metric tonnes of various narcotics were seized. The street value of these substances was estimated at over ₦1 trillion.
The education minister fully backed the proposal, highlighting the direct link between drug abuse and declining academic performance, rising school dropouts, and poor employability. He announced the immediate establishment of a Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Care unit within the ministry to coordinate and implement the reforms.
The new policy framework also includes a comprehensive prevention program for secondary schools. This will feature drug awareness lectures, student-parent engagement initiatives, and peer-led campaigns. To ensure proper execution, an inter-ministerial technical working group will be formed to supervise the rollout of drug testing in tertiary institutions and the integration of revised content into school subjects.
This approach blends preventive education with enforcement, signaling a shift in how the country addresses the drug crisis. Authorities hope that starting awareness early and maintaining strict controls in higher institutions will help reduce drug demand, support academic excellence, and create a safer learning environment across the country.
