NIGERIAN STUDENTS MUST OBTAIN DRUG INTEGRITY TEST BEFORE ADMISSIONS INTO UNIVERSITIES - NDLEA

 

By Ambrose Obioma Okehi (News Emperor)

In a bid to eradicate this disturbing public  menace from drug abuse among Nigerian youths, particularly school  age  or those seeking admission into institutions of higher learning, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has said that henceforth there will be an National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA's) Integrity Test to be carried out before  admissions are given to students into institutions of higher learning.

To achieve that objective, the agency also said it is currently  seeking and proposing presidential permit  or policy (legislation) that would allow it carry  out such test on students before they are given admission to study in any Nigerian universities.

This, the narcotic agency, informed was aimed at ensuring that our society becomes a drug free society.

Speaking at a one-day News Emperor Magazine's National Youths Enlightenment/Sensitisation Seminar (NAYES), which was held at the popular Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, August 28,2025.

"And of course you know that there is something, the Drug Integrity Test (DIT). You know, our Chairman, he is seeking to carry out Drug Integrity Test (DIT) first for students seeking  admission in our universities".

The agency is saying,  "this is being put in place to ensure that this war is against  drug abuse is taken to the grassroot. It is not going to go through a legislation but it is a matter of policies. And he (the NDLEA'S Boss) is also capable of ensuring that the necessary legislation is gotten to backup the endeavor," the representative of the! Lagos State Commander of NDLEA told participants.

Brigadia-General Buba Marwa (Rtd.), who was represented at the event by an Assistant State Commander, ASC, ACN UCHE SAMPSON, an from the Sensitisation department of agency.

ASC SENSITIZATION, NDLEA, while speaking at this medain edition of News Emperor Magazine's National Youth Enlightenment/Sensitisation Seminar (NAYES 2025), noted that the issue of war against drug abuse is a task that needs collective efforts. 

Still giving more insight into the test, Marwa said the demand for integrity  test would help to reduce the rampant cases of drug addiction among Nigerian youths particularly those within the school age.

Speaking on how the idea to put together such a seminar and partner with the NDLEA on its fight against drug abuse, the Convener, Pastor Ambrose Obioma Okehi, the Publisher of News Emperor Magazine noted that it was a long-held dream, which he started nursing since 2019 but was truncated by COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that he has been longing to partner with agency with NDLEA on the issue of this  war against drug abuse, thereby using his media organization as a media organ in helping in the sensitisation of Nigerian youths involvement in drug addiction and drug related affairs.

The dream, Pastor  AKO Okehi, further added that since that 2019, the idea has nit died but remains afresh in him and that he is even packaging a book that help to educate the youths on on that.

He said equally thanked God that at last the noble idea has kick-started at Lagos Airport Hotel, where he (the Chief Executive Officer, CEO/Publisher of News Emperor Magazine, Pastor Ambrose Obioma Okehi) disclosed that his passion for the fight against drug abuse was high because he had one time been a victim of such attack by drug addict, but he survived it.

The one-day youth enlightenment and sensitisation seminar which was well attended by was Chaired by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CCEO), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadia-General Buba Muhammad Marwa who was represented by an assistant Commander from Lagos State Command of the agency.

Prof. Samuel Babatunde who was the Guest Lecture/Speaker did Justice to his presentation as he took the participants on the course, the effects and dangers of getting involved in drug related issues.

Prof.Babatunde Samuel also pointed out that drug anuse has become a major social, health and security issue affecting Nigerian youths.

According to Babatunde, who is the Rector, Port and Terminal Management Academy of Nigeria and a former National Vice President of Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS), UNODC (2018) National Drug Use Survey, about 14.3 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 to 64 are reported to have been using Psychoactives.

He added that youths between the ages of 15 to 35 are the most vulnerable group.

The professor defined drug abuse as the excessive, maladaptive, or harmful use of Psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs, leading to physical, mental, and social consequences.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Widescooe Logistics International Limited, an organization that has been so supportive and has been a source of encouragement to the management of Truewitness Communications and Media Services in all their previous events, Alhaji (Dr) Segun Musa, who was represented at well attended seminar by the  Director Business Development and Strategy, Global Transport Policy, Mr. Onoruoiza Onuchi.

In Widescope's Goodwill message delivered through Onuchi, Alhaji commended the management of Truewitness Communications for putting up such innovative idea that is helping to educate the Nigerian youths on the harmful effects of engaging in drug related issues.

He called on Nigerian youths to shun drug abuse, saying it leads to criminal activities and other other societal vices.

Youths from Mission For Souls Church were well represented.

The CCEO of NDLEA, who was represented at the seminar by Sampson ... told the youths and other members of the public that participated at the seminar that parents should watch our for their children when they are bring up new behaviors at home as that would help them addentify their involvement with drugs and dangerous substances.

He said, "the policy of NDLEA headed by Brigadia-General Bubu Marwa (rtd.) is in inclusivity with one of the cardinal policies in the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), which he introduced when he came earlier as Chairman', which we have been pursuing vigorously as an organization".

The Chairman of the NDLEA, who spoke through Mr. Sampson noted that since then that the agency has been speaking to all stakeholders to ensure that needed awareness is to the general public on the inherent dangers of drug addiction and abuse.

"And we seek to bring sny available stakeholder on board in the course of fighting this war against drug abuse.

And if there is any available platforms to sensitise the public on the dangers of drug abuse, be it schools, churches, worship centres, workplace, market places and even communities, we are available and we respond".

While trying to eulogise his boss, the representative of NDLEA, Lagos State Commander, ACN UCHE SAMPSON, Assistant State Commander, ASC NDLEA on Sensitisation,  who the Headquarters delegated to represent the CCEO said that his boss laid some provable legacies while he was the Governor of Lagos State some years ago. 

According to him, "

The Lagos Command of NDLEA representative told the participants at News Emperor Magazine's National Youths Enlightenment/Sensitisation Seminar (NAYES) that since their boss (Marwa) came on board as the NDLEA's CCEO of the agency, that he has changed the narrative. 

"Since Brigadia-General Buba Marwa came on board as the boss of NDLEA, he has changed the narratives. In terms of drug seizures, in terms of the arrests, in terms of convictions we have gotten, in terms of assets we have seized. Including those who have passed through our counseling and rehabilitation exercises and they are back to the society.