NDLEA Kwara State Commandant Proposes Mandatory Drug Testing for University Students

 

Hajia Fatima Abiola-Popoola, the Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kwara State, has proposed implementing mandatory drug tests for newly admitted university students as part of their admission process. Speaking during a radio program in Ilorin, Hajia Abiola-Popoola emphasized that such measures could serve as an effective preventive strategy, allowing for early intervention and counseling for students who may already be using drugs.

Hajia Abiola-Popoola voiced her concerns about the increasing prevalence of drug use in Nigeria. She highlighted alarming statistics from a 2018 survey, which indicated that approximately 14.3 million people in the country were using drugs. She pointed out that one in every seven Nigerians is a drug user, and notably, one in four drug users is a woman.

“This data is troubling,” she said. “Given that women often play crucial roles as caregivers and managers of households, the high rate of drug use among them suggests a significant societal issue.”

Her proposal aims to address these concerns by incorporating drug testing into the university admission process, thereby identifying and supporting students who might be at risk before their drug use escalates.