The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to introduce mandatory drug testing across major educational, professional, and political institutions in the country.
National President of NYCN, Isah Abubakar, appealed in an open letter addressed to the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), on Thursday in Kaduna. He commended the agency’s anti-drug efforts but warned that drug abuse had become a national emergency threatening Nigeria’s moral and social stability.
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Abubakar proposed a national framework for drug screening, which would make drug tests compulsory before students sit for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), gain admission into tertiary institutions, or collect university degrees.
He also recommended testing for corps members before receiving discharge certificates from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
According to him, employment in both public and private sectors should require verified negative drug test results, with regular re-screening of employees. He further suggested that political aspirants and officeholders undergo similar tests before nomination or appointment.
Abubakar stressed that the initiative was not punitive but preventive, designed to protect the nation’s youth and ensure a healthier, more disciplined generation.
He also called for strong legislative backing and the involvement of musicians, actors, and other influencers in discouraging drug use.
“The future of Nigeria depends on the health and discipline of its youth. A drug-free nation is possible if decisive action is taken now,” Abubakar said.
