By Ifeoluwa Odunayo
The head of Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), has raised the alarm over the rising tide of drug use in the country, revealing that one in every seven Nigerians between the ages of fifteen and sixty four consumes drugs.
Speaking in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, Marwa described the trend as a national crisis that demands urgent and collective action.
To tackle the challenge, the NDLEA boss proposed the introduction of drug integrity tests for corps members, prospective couples, and youth groups.
He emphasized that the aim is not punitive but to ensure early detection and timely support.
Marwa also urged the NYSC to deploy corps members with backgrounds in health-related fields to NDLEA rehabilitation centres nationwide for hands-on experience in drug prevention and treatment efforts.
In response, the NYSC Director General welcomed the proposal and pledged to study its implementation modalities.
The initiative, if embraced, could mark a new front in the fight against drug abuse among Nigerian youths.
