No Drug Test, No Admission: FG Unveils New Policy for Secondary Schools

The Federal Government has introduced mandatory drug testing for secondary school students across Nigeria as part of new measures aimed at tackling the growing problem of drug and substance abuse among adolescents.

The directive is contained in the National Implementation Guidelines Against Drug and Substance Use in Schools in Nigeria, a policy framework designed to create safer learning environments and improve students’ academic performance and mental wellbeing.

Under the new policy, all newly admitted students in secondary schools will undergo compulsory drug integrity tests during admission, while returning students will also be subjected to periodic and surprise screenings at least once every academic session.

The government stated that the move is intended to address the rising cases of substance abuse among young Nigerians, especially within secondary schools. Authorities believe the policy will help identify students struggling with addiction early and provide them with counselling and rehabilitation support.

According to the guidelines, students who test positive for drugs for the first time will undergo counselling and treatment supervised by school authorities. Those who repeatedly fail the tests will be referred to medical professionals for more specialised treatment and rehabilitation.

The policy further states that students who continue to test positive after repeated interventions could face temporary suspension from school to undergo professional rehabilitation before being allowed to return.

In addition, schools have been directed to establish disciplinary committees to enforce compliance with the guidelines. Violent incidents linked to drug abuse are also expected to be reported to law enforcement agencies.

The introduction of the policy has already sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians, with many supporting the move as a necessary step to combat drug abuse among youths, while others raised concerns over implementation, students’ rights, and the readiness of schools and health facilities to handle the nationwide programme effectively.