The National Association of Nigerian Students has called on the Federal Government to introduce mandatory drug testing for every student in tertiary institutions as part of a national effort to tackle substance abuse among young people.
The association said the policy would help restore discipline, enhance academic performance, and protect the future of Nigeria’s youth population.
In a position paper signed by Comrade Olushola Oladoja, President of NANS, the students’ organisation urged the government to implement a Drug-Free Campus Initiative (DFCI) aimed at addressing the rising challenge of drug abuse in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.
Oladoja cautioned that substance abuse among students had become a serious public health issue, endangering academic achievement, moral values, and national productivity.
He said there was an urgent need for collective action to free Nigeria’s campuses from the hold of drug addiction and restore sanity to the student environment.
“Drug abuse among students is no longer an isolated concern; it has evolved into a public health crisis affecting learning, safety, and national productivity,” NANS stated.
The association listed marijuana, tramadol, codeine, and methamphetamine—popularly called ‘ice’ or ‘mkpurummiri’—as the most commonly abused substances within campuses, noting that their consumption encouraged violence, cultism, and other anti-social activities.
“Most cases of cultism, assault, and campus unrest are traceable to substance influence. Drug abuse fuels aggression and moral decay among students,” the statement read.
NANS stressed that the campaign against drug abuse must start from higher institutions, calling for collaboration between the Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), school managements, and student unions to lead the initiative.
The association proposed compulsory drug testing for all students at both admission and graduation stages in tertiary institutions, under the supervision of NDLEA personnel and school health departments. It stated that the policy would serve as both a preventive and corrective strategy in managing drug use.
“All newly admitted students should undergo compulsory drug testing as part of the admission clearance process. Similarly, every graduating student must undergo drug testing before final clearance to ensure they leave the institution clean and responsible,” NANS proposed.
The group also recommended the creation of Drug-Free Clubs or committees in every campus, supported by the NDLEA and student unions, to promote awareness, peer education, and counselling. It added that drug education should be made a compulsory component of student orientation programmes and General Studies (GST) courses.
“Students identified with substance use should be referred for rehabilitation and counselling, not stigmatised, ensuring reintegration into academic life,” the group advised.
NANS further appealed for continuous collaboration between government agencies and civil society organisations to strengthen advocacy, workshops, and sensitisation efforts against drug use among students.
Oladoja reaffirmed the association’s commitment to nurturing a disciplined and morally upright student community, warning that the nation’s future workforce and leadership potential could be jeopardised if the situation remained unchecked.
“The dream of a prosperous Nigeria begins with a generation of mentally sound, morally upright, and drug-free students,” he said.
NANS insisted that drug abuse on campuses poses “a clear and present danger” to national stability and educational growth, urging students to take personal responsibility for their health, discipline, and future.
