The House of Representatives has called on the Ministry of Education to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to establish a compulsory drug testing program for secondary school students in Nigeria. This decision came after Rep. Moshood Oshun (APC-Lagos) introduced a motion during a session in Abuja, highlighting the importance of addressing drug use among adolescents.
Oshun emphasized that adolescence is a crucial stage of development and cited various factors such as peer pressure and socio-economic challenges that contribute to drug experimentation among youth. He stressed the significance of government intervention to safeguard the wellbeing of young people and harness their potential for national development, particularly in light of the increasing prevalence of substance abuse among them.
“According to studies there is a notable prevalence of drug and substance abuse across secondary schools in Nigeria, one in every four students aged between 15-19 years
abused substances,” he said.
He noted that substances like codeine-containing syrup and tramadol were at the forefront of the drug list, surpassing cannabis in prevalence.
“Random Student Drug Testing (RSDT) is a drug prevention programme whereby students are tested for recent use of illegal substances.
He stated that this initiative aimed to discourage drug use and to identify students in need of support to maintain a drug-free lifestyle.
He emphasized that mandatory routine and random drug testing for students served a preventive rather than punitive purpose, allowing for early intervention.
He stressed the importance of such measures in effectively addressing the problem of substance abuse in the country.
In adopting the motion, the House called upon the National Orientation Agency and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify awareness campaigns on substance abuse among secondary school students nationwide.
Furthermore, the House tasked its Committees on Basic Education and Services and Healthcare Services with ensuring compliance and reporting back within four weeks for further legislative action.
…………
Note : To submit Press Releases, Statements, and Advert Inquiries for publication on Waffi blog (website) or Television 📺, please use the following contact details: You can send an email to info@waffitv.com or reach us via Whatsapp at 07068286500
