The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is advocating a mandatory drug test as a prerequisite for admission of students into tertiary institutions in the country.
Anambra State Commander of the agency, Onubogu Charles Orakwue, said this will help put the students in healthy frame of mind necessary for academic excellence.
Orakwue who stated this when he led a team of NDLEA officials on an advocacy visit recently, to the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Dr. Chioma Irene Awuzie, lamented the menace of drug abuse among the youths.
He disclosed that the agency has visited six tertiary institutions in Anambra State on advocacy campaign, to end drug abuse, which he described as a collective responsibility of all stakeholders.
The Rector, in her remarks, commended NDLEA for its passionate drive to stamp out use of illicit drug abuse in the society.
She lamented that drug abuse has continued to disrupt academic performance of students and have put many young people at health risks.
Dr. Awuzie however, suggested that a law should be enacted by the National Assembly to make drug test mandatory for all tertiary institutions in Nigeria before students’ admission, adding that this is the only way to ensure total compliance by all tertiary institutions.
The Deputy Rector (Academic) of the institution, Dr. Nkiruka Akabuike, wants secondary schools students to be included in the campaign, so as to tackle the problem of drug abuse from its roots.
