The National Association of Nigerian Students has encouraged the management of tertiary institutions all over the country to introduce mandatory drug testing for both fresh and graduating students as part of their clearance procedures.

The student body said the move would help fight against the growing danger of substance abuse on campuses and promote discipline among undergraduates.

The President of NANS, Olushola Oladoja, made this known to the public on Monday in Abuja during a sensitisation crusade on drug abuse and the need for a drug-free student community.

Oladoja warned that substance abuse among students had become a public health crisis, threatening academic excellence, moral integrity, and national productivity.

The president said the proposal, to be supervised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and health units of tertiary institutions, would be of use as a precautionary measure against drug misuse among students.

“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 identified marijuana, tramadol, codeine, and methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘ice’ or ‘mkpurummiri’, as the most widely abused substances on campuses, noting that their use fuels violence, cultism, and other social vices.

“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.

“Students identified with substance use should be referred for rehabilitation and counselling, not stigmatised, ensuring reintegration into academic life,” the group advised.

The NANS also urged partnership with government agencies and civil society to intensify campaigns, seminars, and sensitisation drives against drug use among students.

The NANS leader also called for the creation of Drug-Free Clubs or committees in all tertiary institutions, to be supported by the NDLEA and student unions.