Nigeria Mandates Periodic Drug Tests for All Secondary and Tertiary Students

The Nigerian government has introduced mandatory and periodic drug integrity tests for students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions nationwide. Students seeking admission into secondary and tertiary institutions will be required to undergo drug tests, while existing students will be tested at least once every academic session.

The tests will become a criterion for both admission and participation in examinations.

The policy is contained in the 2026 National Implementation Guidelines Against Drug and Substance Use in Schools released by the Federal Ministry of Education. The guidelines apply to both public and private institutions and will be conducted in collaboration with approved federal or state government health facilities.

Parents and guardians must declare controlled medications used by students during admission and resumption processes.

The ministry described the growing rate of substance abuse among young people as a major social and public health concern threatening education, public safety, and national development. Recent findings indicate that an increasing number of students are involved in the use of illicit drugs and harmful substances across all levels of education.

4 per cent of Nigerians aged between 15 and 64 abuse drugs.

"Recent data and field reports paint a deeply troubling picture: an alarming and increasing number of students in both secondary schools and tertiary institutions across Nigeria are engaging in the use and abuse of illicit drugs and harmful substances," the document read.

The ministry also linked the drug crisis to broader national problems. "One of the main catalysts of the numerous security challenges facing Nigeria is the problem of the use of hard drugs," it stated.

The guidelines mandate the establishment of anti-drug committees in schools, stricter monitoring of campuses, counselling and rehabilitation measures for affected students, and closer collaboration with anti-drug and health agencies. All institutions must establish substance abuse prevention and management committees involving parents, teachers, community leaders, religious leaders and student representatives.

Schools are expected to appoint Drug Desk Officers responsible for early detection, monitoring, referrals and intervention support.

Schools must provide pre-test and post-test counselling for students undergoing screening. The guidelines outlined a three-stage response system for students who test positive. The first stage involves counselling and initial intervention, while the second stage requires referral for specialised treatment.

Students who continue to test positive after the first two stages may face temporary suspension for rehabilitation under the third stage. The policy lists health over punishment as one of its core principles, with emphasis placed on care, support and rehabilitation. Schools are declared Zero-Tolerance Zones for the sale and consumption of illicit drugs.

Vendors found selling drugs or harmful substances in or around schools risk losing their operating licences and being reported to the NDLEA. Pharmacies and medicine stores operating on campuses are prohibited from selling controlled substances without a doctor's prescription.

Any school authority found negligent in handling drug-related cases could face sanctions under the Public Service Rules or relevant institutional regulations.

School administrations that fail to act on reported cases face disciplinary action for General Inefficiency or Negligence. AllAfrica reported these measures on 13 May 2026.