The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Federal Government to make drug testing compulsory for all students in tertiary institutions, saying the move is crucial to combating the rising tide of substance abuse among young Nigerians
In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, NANS urged the government to launch a comprehensive Drug-Free Campus Initiative (DFCI) that would be implemented across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.
Oladoja described drug abuse among students as a “public health emergency” that threatens discipline, academic excellence, and the moral foundation of the country’s youth.
“Drug abuse among students is no longer an isolated concern; it has evolved into a public health crisis affecting learning, safety, and national productivity,” the association warned.
NANS identified substances such as marijuana, tramadol, codeine, and methamphetamine (popularly known as “ice” or “mkpurummiri”) as the most abused on campuses, linking their use to violence, cultism, and other vices.
“Most cases of cultism, assault, and campus unrest are traceable to substance influence. Drug abuse fuels aggression and moral decay among students,” the statement added.
The association proposed that drug testing be made mandatory for all newly admitted and graduating students, to be supervised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in collaboration with institutional health units.
“All newly admitted students should undergo compulsory drug testing as part of admission clearance, while graduating students must also be tested before final clearance to ensure they leave school clean and responsible,” the statement read.
NANS further recommended the creation of Drug-Free Clubs or committees in all tertiary institutions, backed by NDLEA and student unions, to promote awareness, peer counselling, and rehabilitation support. Drug education, it added, should be incorporated into orientation programmes and General Studies (GST) courses.
Students found to be struggling with addiction, the group noted, should not be stigmatised but rather offered rehabilitation and reintegration support.
The association also urged collaboration among the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, school authorities, and civil society groups to sustain sensitisation campaigns and educational programmes against drug use.
Oladoja reaffirmed NANS’ commitment to building a morally sound and disciplined student community, warning that unchecked drug abuse poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s future.
“The dream of a prosperous Nigeria begins with a generation of mentally sound, morally upright, and drug-free students,” he said.
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