By Jane Okafor, Abeokuta
Compulsory drug integrity test for students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria and the review of current secondary school curriculum to include drug education are part of agreements reached between the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The two federal government agencies struck the agreement when the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) led a delegation of his management team to a meeting with the Hon Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa in Abuja on Wednesday, July 30.
Marwa had during the meeting commended the minister for his proactive approach to his job while highlighting the devastating effect of substance abuse on the countrys youthful population. He noted that the fight against illicit drugs is a fight for the souls of the Nigerian youth.
“The purpose of this visit is to seek collaboration with this esteemed ministry in our collective efforts towards drug control in Nigeria. Our focus basically will be on schools and educational institutions. There are millions of our children that are under the supervision of this ministry, and it’s very critical.
“The drug scourge, as we all know, is very high in Nigeria. So, we’re actually fighting for the souls of our children. Now, we also know that the drug use is exacerbating criminal activities. That is, the Boko Haram, the terrorism, banditry, and so on.
“We know that without drugs, they wouldn’t be able to do what they are doing, because they wouldn’t do all these criminal activities in their right senses. So, in our own way, we are contributing to the fight against insecurity in the country,” he said.
According Marwa, the NDLEA is dealing a mortal blows to the drug cartels through efficient law enforcement, seizures, arrests, convictions, and assets forfeiture.
The NDLEA boss said with supported from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the agency has in the last two years, made arrest of 40,887 criminal elements, gotten 8,682 convicted and seized 5,507 metric tons of illicit drugs.
He added that from January last year to the present, opioids, that’s tramadol mostly, that have been seized, were in excess of one billion pills worth more than N1 trillion.
While stating that the President is also supporting the Agency to build seven rehabilitation centres in addition to the existing 30 centres in NDLEA commands nationwide, Marwa noted that President Tinubu has also approved the construction of one model rehab centre in each of the geo-political zone in the country.
He listed three key areas he will want the Ministry and NDLEA to collaborate to effectively check the menace of substance abuse among Nigerian youths.
According to him, the first suggestion is for a review of the drug education curriculum in secondary schools.
Responding, the Minister commended Marwa for his steadfastness and commitment to the service of Nigeria. Thank you for your service to Lagos.
