ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is calling for compulsory drug testing for all prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as part of its broader efforts to combat the rising tide of drug abuse in Nigeria.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), stated that the agency is intensifying its fight against drug abuse by encouraging testing across universities, communities, and within families.
He made this known during a ‘Training the Trainer’ programme held in Abuja on Saturday, organised by the NDLEA in partnership with the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.
The initiative seeks to empower church leaders and community figures with the knowledge and tools to educate young people, discourage drug use, and support families dealing with addiction.
Represented by the agency’s Director of Drug Demand Reduction, Mrs Ngozi Madubuike, Marwa explained that introducing drug tests at NYSC orientation camps would serve as a deterrent to substance use.
He added that the screening would also allow for early intervention and support for those who test positive during camp activities.
The initiative is part of the NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which focuses on reducing drug demand and strengthening youth-focused support systems.
Already, some universities and state governments have implemented the drug testing policy, and its acceptance is steadily growing.
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The NDLEA currently provides affordable drug test kits to institutions and deploys trained officers to carry out testing.
Despite facing some resistance, the agency is advocating for similar drug testing policies in other sectors, including the public service.
“If youths know camps include drug tests, they’ll avoid it. The goal is early help for those who need it,” said Marwa.
He stressed the urgent need for a collective response to address the increasing prevalence of drug abuse nationwide.
While continuing its core mandate of arrests, seizures, and prosecutions, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is also intensifying efforts to curb drug demand through education and rehabilitation programmes.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), noted that the root causes of drug abuse are often tied to broader social, economic, and environmental issues that extend beyond the agency’s reach.
He emphasised the need for a collective effort involving parents, educators, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to prevent drug use among young people.
Parents, he said, must engage in open communication with their children, monitor their friendships and online activities, and reinforce moral values at home.
Marwa pointed out that only a unified national approach can reverse the alarming rise in substance abuse among Nigerian youth.
“NDLEA sees collaboration with NYSC and educational institutions as vital to combatting drug abuse among the youth population,” he said.
Juliet Michael, a childhood education expert and secretary of the National Cancer Society, described the initiative as both timely and essential.
She noted that the programme offers support to families during a period when moral foundations in many homes are weakening.
“In the past, a look from parents was enough. Today, many parents struggle to connect with their children,” she reflected.
Michael attributed the erosion of discipline and positive values among youths to peer pressure and the lack of strong role models.
She encouraged parents to lead by example, welcome their children’s friends, and foster nurturing home environments.
She added that workshops like the NDLEA’s initiative play a vital role in reinforcing positive values and countering destructive societal trends.
She maintained that for meaningful change to occur nationwide, parents must embody the virtues they wish to instil, as the home remains the cornerstone of transformation.
Another participant, Iyenoma Osazee, said the training equips individuals with the skills to recognise early signs of drug use and guide those affected towards help and rehabilitation.
— NAN
