The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is advocating for mandatory drug testing for all prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Buba Marwa, the NDLEA Chairman, stated that the agency is actively addressing drug abuse by promoting drug testing in universities, communities, and families.
He made these remarks during a “Training the Trainer” event organized by the NDLEA in collaboration with the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) in Abuja on Saturday.
The initiative aims to equip church leaders and community influencers with the tools necessary to educate youths, prevent drug use, and support families dealing with addiction.
Represented by Ngozi Madubuike, NDLEA’s director of Drug Demand Reduction, Mr Marwa said drug tests at NYSC camps would help deter substance use.
He explained the tests would also enable timely support and intervention for those who test positive for drugs during orientation.
The programme is part of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, aimed at reducing drug demand and building stronger support networks for youths.
The policy has already been adopted by some universities and state governments and is gradually gaining wider acceptance.
NDLEA supplies affordable test kits to schools and assigns trained officers to carry out drug testing procedures.
The agency is pushing for drug test requirements in other sectors, including public service, in spite of some opposition.
“If youths know camps include drug tests, they’ll avoid it. The goal is early help for those who need it,” said Mr Marwa.
He emphasised that urgent collective action is needed to address the rising trend of drug abuse in the country.
While NDLEA focuses on arrests, seizures, and prosecutions, it also addresses demand through education and rehabilitation initiatives.
Mr Marwa said the roots of drug abuse lie in wider social, economic, and environmental factors beyond the agency’s control.
He stressed the importance of parents, teachers, religious figures, and communities working together for prevention.
Parents were urged to speak openly with children, monitor their peers and online habits, and promote strong moral values.
He explained that only a united national effort can reverse the growing crisis of substance abuse among Nigerian youths.
