- All newly admitted secondary school students in Nigeria must now undergo mandatory drug integrity tests as part of their admission process.
- Beyond entry-level checks, schools are required to conduct random and periodic drug tests for both new and returning students at least once per academic session.
- The policy follows a three-strike rehabilitation model, moving from initial counseling to professional referral and, ultimately, temporary suspension for students who repeatedly test positive.
The Federal Government has rolled out a sweeping new policy aimed at curbing the rising tide of substance abuse within Nigeria’s education system.
Eko Hot Blog reports that under the “National Implementation Guidelines Against Drug and Substance Use in Schools,” the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has overseen the introduction of a framework designed to identify at-risk students and provide a path toward rehabilitation rather than immediate expulsion.
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The guidelines stipulate that all testing must be conducted in collaboration with approved federal or state health facilities to ensure medical accuracy and student safety.
The intervention process is carefully structured to prioritize student mental health. A first positive result triggers mandatory counseling and school-level intervention.
A second positive result leads to a professional referral for specialized medical attention.
However, if a student fails a third test, the policy mandates temporary suspension from the school environment to undergo comprehensive rehabilitation.
Every test must be accompanied by pre-test and post-test counseling to manage student anxiety and ensure they are linked to appropriate support systems.
While the policy includes strict prohibitions on the possession of narcotics and controlled substances, it provides an exception for students who require medication for documented medical conditions, provided parents declare these during admission.
Education stakeholders have expressed a mix of caution and support, noting that while the move is necessary to address the security and academic performance issues linked to drug use, the successful implementation will depend on the readiness of health facilities and the capacity of schools to manage disciplinary committees fairly.
