Brigadier General Buba Marwa, Chairman and CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has once again emphasized the agency’s call for mandatory drug tests for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members. Marwa, speaking during a courtesy visit by NYSC Director General Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu and senior NYSC officials, reiterated that the proposed drug tests are aimed at prevention rather than punishment.
The visit, confirmed by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, centered on the increasing concern over the rise in drug abuse among Nigerian youth. Marwa stressed that the drug integrity test would focus on early detection and intervention to prevent the escalation of drug abuse into addiction.
“This is not a punitive action,” Marwa clarified. “The goal is prevention—helping individuals before drug use escalates into addiction.”
Marwa’s statement comes amidst growing discussions on the proposal, which has garnered mixed reactions online. He highlighted disturbing statistics from national drug surveys, revealing that one in seven Nigerians aged 15 to 64 engages in drug use. Marwa noted that the drug problem continues to ravage Nigerian communities and stressed that the NDLEA’s strategy focuses not only on reducing drug supply but also on decreasing demand through education, counseling, and rehabilitation.
The NDLEA’s efforts in collaboration with the NYSC were also discussed during the meeting. Marwa praised the formation of War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) clubs in NYSC orientation camps and proposed expanding the initiative, including mandatory drug tests for corps members. He also suggested that intending couples should obtain drug-free certificates, underscoring the importance of early detection in preventing serious consequences, such as psychiatric disorders, which affect both individuals and society.
Marwa further proposed deploying corps members with expertise in psychology, nursing, psychiatry, and counseling to the NDLEA’s Counselling and Treatment Centres for their primary assignments. This initiative, he believes, would help deepen their professional skills and bolster the agency’s rehabilitation efforts.
In response, the NYSC Director General lauded the proposal as a “fantastic idea,” promising to review the recommendations for potential implementation. Nafiu also assured that a comprehensive framework would be developed to facilitate the posting of qualified corps members to NDLEA commands, particularly those with active counseling and treatment facilities.
The collaboration between the NDLEA and NYSC is poised to play a crucial role in the national fight against drug abuse and its impact on Nigerian youth.