The National President of the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Isah Abubakar, has called for mandatory drug screening across various major institutions in Nigeria.
Abubakar made the call in an open letter released on Thursday in Kaduna, addressed to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
While commending the NDLEA’s efforts in the fight against drugs nationwide, Abubakar described drug abuse as a direct threat to the stability, future and moral foundation of society.
He acknowledged that strong parenting was also important in preventing drug abuse.
The national president, however, said that the scale of the crisis has grown beyond what families and individuals could manage alone.
Abubakar warned that the future of young people is at risk if urgent, coordinated and systemic measures are not taken to counter rising drug addiction.
The NYCN president, therefore, proposed a national drug screening framework aimed at detecting and helping individuals involved in drug use before they suffer irreversible damage or harm to society.
“The proposal calls for drug screening before students write the Senior School Certificate Examinations and before they receive admission into tertiary institutions.
“It also calls for testing before graduates collect university degrees and before entering or receiving discharge certificates from NYSC orientation camps,” he said.
Abubakar added that employment processes should include mandatory drug testing in both public and private sectors, with periodic re-screening of individuals already working.
He stressed that political parties must not issue expression or nomination forms to any aspirant without a verified negative drug test result, followed by routine checks for appointees and office holders.
Abubakar urged the NDLEA to engage cultural influencers, including musicians and entertainers, to discourage public glorification of drug use and promote responsible youth guidance.
He said the framework should be backed by clear national legislation to ensure sustainability, enforcement and nationwide compliance.
He emphasised that the approach is not punitive but protective, focused on early intervention and national wellbeing.
Abubakar stated further that Nigeria’s future depends on the health, discipline and stability of its youth population, which requires urgent institutional safeguarding.
He called for swift action in prosecuting drug dealers who destroy lives and communities, while also supporting rehabilitation for victims of drug addiction.
Abubakar also urged the NDLEA to lead in transforming the proposal into national policy, stressing that the NYCN is ready to collaborate fully.
“A drug-free nation is possible if decisive action is taken now,” he said. (NAN)
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