NYCN Calls For Mandatory Drug Testing In Nigerian Schools, Workplaces, And Politic

BY GLORY UGOBA

The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to introduce mandatory drug testing across schools, workplaces, and political institutions as part of a national campaign to curb drug abuse.

In an open letter released on Thursday in Kaduna, the National President of NYCN, Isah Abubakar, said widespread drug abuse poses a direct threat to Nigeria’s stability, moral foundation, and future development.

Drug abuse now beyond family control, says Abubakar

While commending the NDLEA for its ongoing fight against drug trafficking and addiction, Abubakar stressed that the magnitude of the drug crisis has outgrown what families and individuals can handle alone.

“The future of young people is at serious risk if urgent, coordinated and systemic measures are not taken,” he warned.

Abubakar emphasized that strong parenting remains vital but must be supported by institutional reforms and preventive mechanisms at all levels of society.

NYCN proposes national drug screening framework

The NYCN president called for a national drug screening framework to help detect and rehabilitate users before their addiction causes irreversible harm.

According to him, the proposed policy would include:

• Pre-examination drug tests before students write the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
• Mandatory testing before admission into tertiary institutions and before graduates receive university degrees or discharge certificates from NYSC orientation camps.
• Drug testing during employment processes in both public and private sectors, with periodic re-screening for existing staff.

He also recommended that political parties must not issue nomination or expression of interest forms to aspirants without verified negative drug test results. The same, he said, should apply to appointees and elected officeholders through routine checks.

‘Not punitive, but protective’

Abubakar clarified that the proposed approach is not punitive but protective — designed to safeguard public health, promote early intervention, and secure the wellbeing of Nigeria’s youth.

“A drug-free nation is possible if decisive action is taken now,” he said.

He also urged the NDLEA to partner with cultural influencers, musicians, and entertainers to discourage the public glorification of drug use and promote responsible youth behavior.

Backing the plan with legislation

To ensure sustainability and nationwide compliance, Abubakar called for a national law to back the framework, making drug screening a compulsory part of Nigeria’s education, employment, and political systems.

He further urged for swift prosecution of drug dealers who destroy lives and communities, alongside rehabilitation programs for victims battling addiction.

“Nigeria’s future depends on the health, discipline, and stability of its youth population. We must safeguard it through decisive, institutional measures,” he concluded.

The NYCN expressed readiness to collaborate with the NDLEA and other relevant agencies to develop and implement the proposed national drug testing policy.