*NDLEA to Conduct Random Drug Tests on Students, Security Agents, Government Officials*

The National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA) has seek the approval of the federal government to conduct random drug tests on fresh and returning undergraduates of tertiary institutions, newly recruited security agents, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members
and government workers to check the menace of drug abuse in the country.

This was made known on Monday in Abuja by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig-Gen. Mohammed
Buba Marwa (retd.), when he hosted NDLEA commanders across the country.

According to the NDLEA boss, the drug
test is necessary for all returning students of tertiary institutions, National
Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, new workers, all security agencies’ new recruits and government appointees.

“All commanders must be desirous of keeping
drugs out of Nigerian streets and homes. So, all of you must shape up and get all those engaged in the nefarious business to face the music. And I need
results from now on. Our maxim will be offensive action. This means we must go all out constantly on the offensive against the bad guys.

“The success we make of this particular task goes a long way to determine the socio-economic stability of the nation. We need not be told of the nexus between drug use, crime and criminalities. The
exponential growth of the nefarious drug activities can be directly linked to
the upsurge in crimes, such as insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, cultism, political thuggery, gangsterism, rape and other maladaptation bedevilling today’s Nigeria. “

“It is not going to be business as usual. It is a moving train. Please, let nobody stand in its front. The train will crush any such person. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

“To the unbending drug crime perpetrators, I would like to let them know also that the game is up! It is high time they embraced another trade. The Federal Government Policy on Agriculture is a window for them to leverage on,” Marwa said.

“While strengthening our enforcement activities, we will equally devote a lot of efforts to prevention, treatment and aftercare, and focus on family/parenting, community, school systems, advocacy to all groups through traditional institutions, religious bodies, media, NGOs, CSOs, state and local governments, among others. We will rehabilitate our rehab centres, make them functional while more will be built,” he said.

Marwa explained that toll free call centres
and help lines will soon be set up for the use of Nigerians with genuine
information or those seeking the agency’s intervention therefore, all hands
must be on deck to help to eradicate the scourge of drug abuse in Nigeria.

“Ours is a national assignment. Drugs
have littered everywhere; every community. We will lead the fight and we will
succeed. Make no mistake about it: it’s a collective effort,” he told the
commanders.

The chairman said the suspended
training of newly recruited personnel would soon resume after appropriate clearance
from relevant authorities. He also assured that the welfare of the commanders
will also be given top priority.

“The welfare of workers of the agency
is of paramount importance and urgency. It will be tackled. I’m aware there are
no barracks, which is not conducive for your line and kind of duty. This as
well as operational and logistics issues will be looked into,” he said.