The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it will seek government approval to conduct drug tests on tertiary institutions’ new students,
security agencies’ fresh recruits, and appointees.
This was made known by Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman of the Agency, during a meeting with commanders of the 36 states, FCT, and special commands, on Monday, January 25, in Abuja.
Marwa disclosed he would soon propose to the government the necessity for drug tests for all tertiary institutions resuming students.
Adding that the test would also be conducted for National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members, new workers, all security agencies, new recruits, and random tests for government appointees.
“NDLEA is ready to help and we must help. The success we make of this particular task goes a long way to determine the socio-economic stability of the nation.
We need not be told of the nexus between drug use, crime, and criminalities. The exponential growth of the nefarious drug activities can be directly linked to the upsurge in crimes such as insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, cultism, political thuggery, gangsterism, rape, and other maladaptation bedeviling today’s Nigeria.
Ours is a national assignment. Drug has littered everywhere; every community.
We will lead the fight and we will succeed. Make no mistake about it, it is a collective effort. We will equally devote a lot of efforts to prevention, treatment, and aftercare and focus on family and parenting, community, school systems, advocacy to all groups,” he said.