By Kola Alhassan
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) wants drug test for students (fresh men and returning students) in the countries tertiary institutions.
The NDLEA boss urged management of tertiary institutions to make drug integrity test compulsory for students to stem the tide of drug abuse among youths.
Sources said Marwa gave the charge during the launching of an anti-drug abuse initiative campaign tagged ‘Drug-free University Campaign’ at the University of Abuja on Wednesday.
He noted that as part of the NDLEA efforts to curb drug abuse, the agency was proposing a collaboration with all tertiary institutions across the federation to conduct drug integrity tests on both new and returning students.
Marwa stated that the drug test is not intended to punish students, adding that it would serve as an early detection tool to know the status of an individual’s drug use for early intervention and treatment.
He expressed hope that the University of Abuja would be its first partner to adopt the policy while others do same.
The NDLEA boss noted that for it to be done, the university would have to create an NDLEA station on the campus where NDLEA operatives will be detailed to assist university authorities to ward off drug dealers and users on campus.
