FG to Begin Drug Tests for University Students – NDLEA

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Federal Government will soon commence mandatory drug tests for all returning and newly admitted students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba-Marwa, made the policy announcement in Abuja on Wednesday.

He stated this during the commissioning of 46 newly procured operational vehicles for the agency’s commands and formations nationwide.

Marwa said the measure, which has received the full backing of the Minister of Education, is part of a broader strategy to combat substance abuse among young people and prevent its associated security threats.

In addition to the testing policy, he noted that the Federal Government will also integrate drug control education into Nigeria’s school curriculum from primary to secondary levels to strengthen early prevention efforts.

“We cannot ignore the link between drug abuse and crimes such as cultism, kidnapping, terrorism, and armed robbery,” Marwa stated. “By educating our young people early and testing students in tertiary institutions, we can detect and address the problem before it escalates.”

Highlighting the scale of the drug problem, Marwa revealed that between January 2024 and June 2025, the NDLEA seized over one billion pills of Tramadol, 14.4 million bottles of codeine, and 5.5 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances. In the same period, the agency arrested 40,887 drug offenders, secured 8,682 convictions, rehabilitated 24,173 drug users, and carried out 8,698 sensitisation campaigns nationwide.

He added that seven new rehabilitation centres are in the pipeline, bringing the total to 37, one in each state and the Federal Capital Territory to provide treatment and recovery support for those affected by drug abuse.