The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kwara State, Hajia Fatima Abiola-Popoola, has called for mandatory drug tests for students seeking admission into Nigerian universities.
She urged university authorities to implement these tests for newly admitted students as part of efforts to curb drug abuse in the country.
Abiola-Popoola made this appeal during an interactive session with journalists in Ilorin, the state capital. She expressed concern over the growing number of drug users in Nigeria, particularly among women, warning of the severe implications for both the home and society.
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Citing a 2018 survey, she stated, “14.3 million people were using drugs in Nigeria. One out of seven persons in Nigeria is a drug user, and it also revealed that one out of four drug users is a woman, and this shows that the society is in trouble. This is because a woman is the administrator of the home, and now that women have started abusing drugs, then the society is in trouble.”
Abiola-Popoola also emphasized the crucial role of traditional rulers in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse. She noted that the success of the anti-drug campaign hinges on the involvement of stakeholders, particularly traditional leaders.
“The traditional rulers have some control over their people, and they are the closest to the communities. Whenever they say a word, it almost becomes a law amongst their people who hold them in high esteem. They have a stronghold in their communities, and that is why they are very important in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse,” she explained.
She added that the NDLEA has been collaborating with traditional rulers as part of its mandate to involve key stakeholders in the society. “When traditional heads rise up in their respective communities against drug traffickers, their people will join them in the fight,” Abiola-Popoola said.
