UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO UNDERGO DRUG INTEGRITY TESTS, AS DRUG EDUCATION ENTERS SCHOOL CURRICULUM

The Federal Ministry of Education has reached an agreement with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to subject university students to drug integrity tests. The Education Ministry also reached another agreement with the NDLEA to introduce drug education into the secondary school curriculum. These were the outcomes of a meeting between the Minister of Education, OLATUNJI ALAUSA, and the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, retired Brigadier General MOHAMMED BUBA MARWA, at the Ministry of Education in Abuja. In his remarks, Brigadier General MARWA highlighted the devastating effect of substance abuse on Nigeria’s youthful population, stressing that the fight against illicit drugs is a fight for the souls of the Nigerian youth.  “The purpose of this visit is to seek collaboration with this esteemed ministry in our collective efforts towards drug control in Nigeria. Our focus basically will be on schools and educational institutions. There are millions of our children that are under the supervision of this ministry, and it's very critical. The drug scourge, as we all know, is very high in Nigeria. So, we're actually fighting for the souls of our children. Now, we also know that the drug use is exacerbating criminal activities. That is, the Boko Haram, the terrorism, banditry, and so on. “We know that without drugs, they wouldn't be able to do what they are doing, because they wouldn't do all these criminal activities in their right senses. So, in our own way, we are contributing to the fight against insecurity in the country. Now, through law enforcement action, we have continued to deal mortal blows to the drug cartels. We know that through the seizures, arrests, convictions, and assets forfeiture, we're doing our best. “Supported by President Bola Tinubu, within the last two years, we have made arrest of 40,887 criminal elements, gotten 8,682 convicted and seized 5,507 metric tons of illicit drugs. In fact, from January last year to the present, opioids, that's tramadol mostly, that we have seized, are in excess of one billion pills, which is worth more than N1 trillion.” While stating that the President is also supporting the NDLEA to build seven rehabilitation centres, in addition to the existing thirty centres commands nationwide, MARWA noted that the administration has also approved the construction of one model rehab centre in each of the geo-political zone in the country. He listed three key areas he will want the Education Ministry and NDLEA to collaborate to effectively check the menace of substance abuse among Nigerian youths. According to him, “the first suggestion we have is for a review of the drug education curriculum in secondary schools. Even though we’re told of the existence of this in the past but because of the complexity of drugs, the dynamism of it, and the new psychoactive substances that have come to play, we feel that it is time to consider a review of this drug education curriculum. “Another area we were thinking of suggesting is to introduce stand-alone drug abuse prevention programmes in schools, secondary schools. Not the curriculum this time, but programmes that stand on their own, lectures, competitions, and involving the parents, and so on. And then the third area we were thinking is to adopt a drug testing policy in tertiary institutions, because we want a policy to keep our campuses clean. Several vice chancellors have come on their own to seek both our guidance and participation in conducting drug test for their students. So, what we are suggesting now is drug tests for new students, for students returning from vacations, and random tests. This will make the children to avoid taking drugs, knowing fully well that if they do and they are found out, there will be consequences. And the consequences do not necessarily mean rustication.”  In his response, the Education Minister commended MARWA for his steadfastness and commitment to the service of Nigeria. “Thank you for your service to Lagos. And beyond that, General Buba Marwa, has committed his life to serve this country. Since I know him thirty years ago, he's still serving the country. And you could see the passion in the way that he laid out the problems in the country and what he wanted us to do. And as he was talking, I made note and it was as if I had seen his prepared comments. Thank you so much for making this visit.” The Minister noted that the drug scourge is a huge problem that must be tackled headlong, stressing that when young people get into drugs, it becomes difficult for them to school and get functional education. “And at the end of the day, what happens? Their level of critical thinking is lower. Their ability to make informed decisions in the later part of their life becomes significantly reduced. So, they become unemployable. And what happens? You now have that vicious cycle. They're not functional. They're not useful to themselves. All they do is resort to criminality. Once you use drugs, you're likely to have a dysfunctional family. So, it's a huge menace that we need to tackle, and tackle very quickly.” Talking about the areas of collaboration, the Minister said “I would suggest we form a technical working group, inter-ministerial working group between our ministry and NDLEA. “As a result, I will also like to create a Substance Use Prevention Unit in the ministry. We're reviewing the curriculum now for secondary school. And that's why I've asked the director of Senior Secondary School to come, to be here and then we find a way to cascade it down to primary school. But we need to get both primary school and secondary school and add this to their curriculum. But the one for secondary school, we can definitely do that now. We're just developing their new curriculum now. “Also, on the stand-alone school programmes, I agree with you fully. We should also design ongoing programmes in our schools. That we can roll out, and cascade down. You also said something very important about the drug test policy in tertiary institutions. We will do it. We have to do it. We do not have a choice. At least, we'll start with tertiary institutions, for their fresh and returning students as well as random testing.” The Minister also assured on getting two agencies under the Ministry, UBEC and TETFUND to partner with the NDLEA Academy in Jos as part of efforts to deepen drug education in basic, secondary and tertiary institutions across the country. Following the Minister’s directive, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Abel Oluwamuyiwa Enitan announced the take-off of the new Substance Use Prevention Unit, while giving the vote of thanks.