The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on tertiary institutions across the country to introduce compulsory drug testing for both new and graduating students as part of their clearance process.
NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, made the appeal in Abuja on Monday during a sensitisation campaign against drug abuse, stressing that the initiative would help tackle the growing menace of substance misuse on campuses and promote discipline among students.
Oladoja explained that the proposed testing would be supervised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in collaboration with the health units of various institutions. According to him, the measure would serve both preventive and corrective purposes.
He said, “Every new student should undergo drug testing during admission clearance, and every final-year student should be tested before graduation. This is necessary to ensure that no one leaves the campus under the influence of substances that destroy potential.”
The NANS leader further proposed the creation of Drug-Free Clubs or committees in all tertiary institutions, supported by the NDLEA and student unions. These clubs, he said, would drive awareness, counselling, and peer education, while drug abuse sensitisation should become a compulsory part of student orientation and General Studies (GST) courses.
Oladoja emphasised that students caught using drugs should be referred for rehabilitation and counselling rather than stigmatised, noting that the fight against drug abuse required the collective effort of the NDLEA, Ministry of Education, and school managements through regular testing, seminars, and awareness programmes.
“Drug abuse among students is a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s educational system and national stability,” he said. “We must begin the fight from our campuses. A drug-free academic environment is key to effective learning, safety, and moral development.”
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He urged the government, tertiary institutions, and civil society organisations to support a Drug-Free Campus Initiative that would make Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges models of discipline and intellectual growth.
According to Oladoja, “The dream of a prosperous Nigeria begins with a generation of mentally sound, morally upright, and drug-free students.”
The call comes amid ongoing discussions about implementing mandatory drug testing in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The NDLEA had earlier proposed a similar policy to cover freshers, returning students, and random testing throughout the academic calendar as part of efforts to curb substance abuse among young people.