The National Association of Nigerian Students has endorsed the proposal by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for students to undergo drug integrity test before admission into the university.
The NANS President, Asefon Daye, expressed his support for the initiative during a solidarity visit to the new NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), in Abuja on Wednesday.
This was contained in a statement by the Principal Staff Officer, NDLEA Public Affairs, Jonah Achema.
It quoted Daye 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.”
Marwa 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.
He further called on them to strengthen the Drug-Free Clubs on campuses.
The chairman noted, “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.”
