Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Wednesday has asked all universities in Nigeria to adopt a new policy of conducting a drug integrity test for all new and returning students.
The chairman made the requests at the University of Abuja while launching the ‘Drug-Free University Campaign.
According to him, the test is not meant to punish students but to ascertain their drug use status for early intervention, timely treatment and care.
Marwa added that the exercise will commence with the University of Abuja. Commending the university for organizing the campaign, he said there was no better time than now to fight and overcome drug challenges in the universities and communities.
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“Part of the measures to reduce drug use in the university is the proposed introduction of the drug integrity test for both new and returning students. The drug integrity test is anticipated to metamorphose into an anti-drug policy for all higher institutions of learning in Nigeria.
“It is expected that the University of Abuja, being the ‘University of National Unity’, will be the first public University in Nigeria to adopt the drug integrity test for fresh and returning students of the institution. The Drug Integrity Test is not a punitive measure; rather it is an early detection tool to ascertain an individual’s drug use status for appropriate intervention, and timely treatment and care.
“This will also entail that the university will develop a drug policy and make such available to each student. Equally important is the need to create an NDLEA outpost on the campus where we’ll deploy our men to assist the authorities, deter drug dealers and users within the University,” he said
