The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria has called for compulsory drug testing across key institutions in the country to tackle the rising cases of drug abuse.
The National President of NYCN, Isah Abubakar, made the appeal in an open letter to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, released on Thursday in Kaduna.
Abubakar praised the NDLEA for its efforts in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse but warned that the current situation had grown beyond what families could handle alone.
He described drug abuse as “a direct threat to the stability, future, and moral foundation of society,” adding that the youth population faces grave danger if urgent action is not taken.
According to him, the NYCN is proposing a national framework that would require drug screening before students write their Senior School Certificate Examinations and before gaining admission into tertiary institutions.
“The proposal calls for drug screening before students write their Senior School Certificate Examinations and before they receive admission into tertiary institutions,” Abubakar said. “It also calls for testing before graduates collect university degrees and before entering or receiving discharge certificates from NYSC orientation camps.”
He further suggested that both public and private employment processes should include mandatory drug testing, with regular re-screening for employees already in service.
Abubakar also urged that political parties should not issue nomination forms to aspirants without a verified negative drug test result, stressing that regular checks should continue for public office holders.
He appealed to the NDLEA to work with cultural and entertainment figures to discourage the public glorification of drug use and promote positive youth influence.
Abubakar emphasized that the framework should be backed by legislation to ensure national enforcement and sustainability, noting that the initiative is meant to protect, not punish.
“This approach is protective, focused on early intervention and national wellbeing,” he said. “Nigeria’s future depends on the health, discipline, and stability of its youth population.”
He also called for the swift prosecution of drug traffickers and stronger support for rehabilitation centres to help victims of addiction.
Abubakar concluded by urging the NDLEA to take the lead in turning the proposal into national policy, adding that “a drug-free nation is possible if decisive action is taken now.”
