NDLEA PUSHES FOR MANDATORY DRUG TESTS IN NYSC CAMPS

NDLEA PUSHES FOR MANDATORY DRUG TESTS IN NYSC CAMPS
In a significant escalation of its anti-drug campaign, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is advocating for compulsory drug testing for all National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members. NDLEA chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), made this known during a ‘Training the Trainer’ programme held in Abuja in partnership with Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM).
Marwa, represented by Director of Drug Demand Reduction, Mrs. Ngozi Madubuike, emphasized that early detection and intervention are key in battling youth drug addiction. According to him, the introduction of drug tests in NYSC orientation camps will not only serve as a deterrent but also provide a critical window for helping those who test positive.
The initiative is part of the NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) strategy, which has expanded into schools, communities, and faith-based groups across Nigeria. Already adopted in some states and universities, the drug testing policy is gathering national momentum despite resistance from some quarters.
Participants at the event, including child education advocate Juliet Michael, praised the initiative as necessary and timely, especially as families and communities struggle to combat the rising tide of youth addiction. Michael and others called on parents to become more involved in their children’s lives and to model the values they expect at home.