The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has proposed that mandatory drug tests should be a requirement for students seeking admission into universities. Hajia Fatima Abiola-Popoola, the NDLEA Commandant for Kwara State, made the suggestion, stating that such tests would serve as a preventive measure and provide early intervention and counseling for students already using drugs, helping to prevent more severe substance abuse issues.
Speaking during a radio program in Ilorin, Abiola-Popoola expressed concern over the increasing number of drug users in Nigeria, especially among females, which she warned could pose significant risks to families and society at large. She cited a 2018 survey that revealed 14.3 million people in Nigeria were drug users, with one in seven Nigerians being a drug user, and one in four drug users being a woman, underscoring the gravity of the issue.
