The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called for mandatory drug testing for all prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in a renewed effort to combat rising drug abuse among Nigerian youths. The call was made by the agency’s Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), during a three-day Drug Prevention Treatment and Care (DPTC) training held in Abuja on Sunday, April 20. The event was organized in collaboration with the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM).
Marwa, represented by NDLEA Director of Drug Demand Reduction, Dr. Ngozi Madubuike, emphasized that drug tests at NYSC orientation camps would serve as a deterrent to substance use while enabling early support and intervention for those who test positive. He noted that some universities and state governments have already adopted similar policies, which are gaining wider acceptance across the country.
The NDLEA is also advocating for drug testing in other sectors, including public service, despite facing some opposition. Marwa argued that early detection through testing could save lives and help young people avoid the harmful path of addiction. “If youths know camps include drug tests, they’ll avoid it. The goal is early help for those who need it,” he said.
According to Marwa, the agency is supplying affordable test kits to educational institutions and deploying trained officers to facilitate the testing process. While NDLEA is known for its enforcement operations involving arrests and drug seizures, the agency is also increasingly focused on prevention through education and rehabilitation initiatives. Marwa acknowledged that the roots of drug abuse extend beyond enforcement and are influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors.
He stressed the importance of collective action by parents, teachers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders in preventing substance abuse. Marwa called on families to maintain open communication with children, monitor their social circles and online activity, and instill strong moral values.
The NDLEA chairman said that drug abuse among young Nigerians threatens the nation’s health, security, and socio-economic stability. To address this, the agency has established drug counseling and rehabilitation centers in 30 states, offering support to individuals battling addiction. He urged communities to provide supportive environments for recovery and to help dismantle the stigma around addiction.
Speaking at the event, childhood education expert and former Secretary of the National Cancer Society, Mrs. Juliet Michael, described the initiative as timely and necessary. She highlighted the challenges facing modern parenting, including peer pressure and lack of role models, which she said contribute to the erosion of discipline and positive values among youths. “Parents must be examples, monitor their children’s friends, and create environments that nurture good behaviour,” she said.
Programme coordinator Dr. Edikanabasi Edema Udoh noted that the training aims to equip community influencers with the tools to detect early signs of drug use and guide affected individuals towards treatment. She emphasized that the training is certified to underscore its importance and called on all Nigerians to support NDLEA’s mission, noting that the agency cannot succeed without broad public involvement.