The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), has defended the agency’s proposal for mandatory drug integrity tests for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, prospective couples, and others, describing it not as a punitive measure, but as a preventive strategy aimed at combating the rising tide of substance abuse in the country.
Marwa made the clarification during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, and other top NYSC officials to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. The proposal, which has garnered attention and sparked widespread debate on social media, aims to detect drug use early, thereby preventing addiction and providing timely interventions for users.
In his statement, Marwa expressed deep concern about the alarming rate of drug abuse in Nigeria, stating that one in seven Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 is involved in substance use. He explained that the country’s drug abuse problem had become pervasive, with no region left untouched by the devastating effects of substance misuse.
"The drug scourge has continued to devastate our kids, families, and communities. There’s nowhere you go in the country that doesn’t have a drug abuse problem," Marwa said. "We must work with stakeholders, including NYSC, to drastically reduce demand among youths. One of our strategies is the drug integrity test, which we’re advocating for NYSC to adopt for corps members."
Marwa emphasized that while efforts to limit the availability of drugs are important, addressing demand reduction through preventive education, counseling, and rehabilitation is equally vital. He welcomed the introduction of War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) clubs in NYSC orientation camps, noting that the initiative supports the agency's wider mission.
He also proposed that intending couples should be required to obtain drug-free certificates, suggesting that early detection of drug use is essential before it escalates to more severe issues, including psychiatric conditions.
Moreover, Marwa recommended deploying corps members with backgrounds in counseling, psychology, nursing, and psychiatry to NDLEA’s Counselling and Treatment Centres nationwide, allowing them to enhance their skills in rehabilitation and psychosocial services while fulfilling their national service.
In his response, NYSC DG Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu commended the drug integrity test proposal, calling it a “fantastic idea” and promised that the NYSC would consider the initiative in developing its guidelines. Nafiu also emphasized the existing partnership between the NDLEA and NYSC, vowing to strengthen this collaboration moving forward.
Marwa’s initiative is seen as part of broader efforts by the NDLEA to curb drug abuse in Nigeria and protect the future of young Nigerians, ensuring that they are better equipped to contribute to national development without the burden of substance misuse.
