The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has endorsed the implementation of mandatory and random drug integrity tests for students in tertiary institutions nationwide. This decision was reached following a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), where both officials discussed strategies to combat substance abuse among students. According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Dr. Alausa also approved a review of the secondary school curriculum to include updated drug education. He further committed to setting up an inter-ministerial working group in collaboration with the NDLEA. Babafemi revealed that Marwa proposed a three-pronged strategy: updating drug education materials in schools, introducing dedicated drug abuse prevention programmes at the secondary level, and enforcing drug testing policies for tertiary institutions—including screening of new and returning students, as well as random tests. Marwa described the drug problem as a major threat to national security and youth development, linking it to crimes such as terrorism and banditry. He added that over the past two years, the NDLEA had arrested more than 40,000 drug offenders and confiscated over 5,500 metric tonnes of illicit drugs. “We are fighting for the souls of our children. Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible,” he said. Responding, Alausa acknowledged the urgency of the problem, stating: “When the youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school, and even when they go to school, they are not getting a functional education. “At the end of the day, what happens? Their level of critical thinking is lower. “Their ability to make informed decisions in the later part of their life becomes significantly reduced. So, they become unemployable. “And what happens? You now have that vicious cycle. They’re not functional.” The minister stated that drug tests for fresh and returning students in tertiary institutions would be done. He said, “You also said something very important about the drug test policy in tertiary institutions. We will do it. “We have to do it. We do not have a choice. At least, we’ll start with tertiary institutions, for their fresh and returning students as well as random testing.” He announced the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the ministry and confirmed that a revised curriculum for secondary schools was underway. Alausa said, “I would suggest we form a technical working group, an inter-ministerial working group between our ministry and NDLEA. “As a result, I would also like to create a Substance Use Prevention Unit in the ministry. “We’re reviewing the curriculum now for secondary school. And that’s why I’ve asked the Director of Senior Secondary School to come, to be here and then we find a way to cascade it down to primary school. “We need to incorporate both primary and secondary schools into their curriculum. But the one for secondary school, we can do that now. We’re currently developing their new curriculum. “Also, on the stand-alone school programmes, I agree with you fully. We should also design ongoing programmes in our schools. That we can roll out, and cascade down.”