- NDLEA’s Hajia Fatima Abiola-Popoola recommends mandatory drug tests for new university students to prevent drug-related issues and provide early intervention
- Abiola-Popoola highlights the alarming rise in drug use among women in Nigeria, urging proactive measures to address this growing concern
The Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kwara State, Hajia Fatima Abiola-Popoola, has recommended that universities implement mandatory drug tests for newly admitted students as part of the admission process.
Hajia Abiola-Popoola explained that this measure would serve as a preventive strategy, offering early intervention and counselling for those already using drugs, thereby preventing them from becoming problematic users.
She shared these views during a radio program in Ilorin, which our correspondent monitored. The NDLEA Commandant expressed deep concern about the growing number of drug users in Nigeria, especially among women, warning that this trend could have serious consequences for families and society.
Citing a 2018 survey, she noted, “14.3 million people in Nigeria were using drugs. One out of every seven people in the country is a drug user, and one out of every four drug users is a woman.”
“This is alarming because women play a crucial role in managing the home, and their involvement in drug use signifies a significant threat to societal stability,” she added.