The Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kwara State, Hajia Fatima Abiola-Popoola, has suggested that newly admitted university students undergo mandatory drug tests as part of the admission process.
She made this proposal during a recent radio programme in Ilorin.
Hajia Abiola-Popoola emphasized that such a measure would serve as a preventive strategy while also providing early intervention and counseling for students who are already using drugs.
According to her, this initiative could prevent these individuals from becoming problematic users, thus mitigating the broader impact of drug abuse on society.
Expressing her concerns over the increasing number of drug users in Nigeria, the NDLEA Commandant highlighted alarming statistics from a 2018 survey. “The survey revealed that 14.3 million people were using drugs in Nigeria, with one out of every seven persons being a drug user. Disturbingly, one out of four drug users is a woman,” she noted.
Hajia Abiola-Popoola underscored the societal implications of these figures, stating, “This shows that the society is in trouble because a woman is the administrator of the home.” Her comments point to the critical need for comprehensive strategies to address the growing drug problem in the country, starting with preventive measures in educational institutions.
