NANS support’s NDLEA on proposed drug test for students
BY Victoria Ogunrinde
The National Association of Nigerian Students NANS, has backed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on its proposed drug integrity test for all students to undergo before admission into the university.
President of the Association, Asefon Daye, gave his approval for the initiative during a solidarity visit to the new NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), in Abuja on Wednesday.
In a statement by the Principal Staff Officer, NDLEA Public Affairs, Jonah Achema, Daye was quoted as stating that drug abuse has done a lot of harm to Nigerian students.
“We support the drug test policy. Drug has done more harm than good to the Nigerian students. We do not want Nigerian students to continue to die of drugs,” he reportedly said.
Daye noted that the initiative was not only preventive but would encourage others to stop the habit “knowing that the authorities would detect it,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA boss commended NANS for the congratulatory visit and show of solidarity.
“I am particularly delighted by your promise to cleanse our campuses of drugs. Your buying into our drug testing among students is equally encouraging” Marwa noted.
Marwa thereby called on them to strengthen the Drug-Free Clubs on campuses.
“There have been some objections to the drug testing initiative. But we cannot watch our students taking drugs and jumping into the well thinking it is a swimming pool.
“The testing of students is to determine their status early enough and decide the form of intervention to deploy. It is by no means punitive,” the chairman added.