NDLEA Seeks Drug Test for Corps Members to Tackle Rising Substance Abuse – Marwa Tells NYSC Boss
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has clarified that the agency’s push for mandatory drug integrity testing for youth corps members, prospective couples, and other groups is aimed at prevention and early intervention—not punishment.
The Director of Media & Advocacy Femi Babafemi, NDLEA disclosed this information in a press statement made available to journalists today in Abuja.
Speaking on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, Marwa said the proposed drug tests would help detect substance use early and allow for timely treatment before it escalates to addiction or psychiatric issues.
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“This is not punitive,” Marwa stated. “It is to discourage drug use and ensure early treatment. One in seven Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 use drugs, and the scourge is everywhere—from our children to communities. We must work together to reduce demand, and drug integrity tests are a preventive strategy we want the NYSC to embrace.”
Marwa acknowledged the NYSC’s introduction of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) clubs in orientation camps and commended it as a significant step in youth sensitization. He also proposed that corps members with qualifications in Guidance and Counselling, Psychology, Nursing, and Psychiatry be posted to NDLEA Counselling and Treatment Centres during their service year to gain practical experience and support rehabilitation efforts.
“Posting these corps members to our centres will not only equip them with practical skills but also boost our human resource capacity for psychosocial interventions,” he added.
In his remarks, NYSC DG Brig. Gen. Nafiu welcomed the proposal, describing the drug integrity test as “a fantastic idea.” He assured that the scheme would review the NDLEA’s recommendations and develop a framework for broader collaboration, particularly in posting corps members to NDLEA centres.
“We are committed to deepening the existing partnership between the NYSC and the NDLEA. This visit is part of our efforts to strengthen that collaboration further,” Nafiu said.
The meeting underscored the growing urgency to address drug abuse among Nigerian youth through strategic partnerships between government agencies.
By PRNigeria
