The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), has called for mandatory drug tests for intending couples and students seeking admission into tertiary institutions to curb substance abuse. Marwa spoke on Tuesday in Dutse at the launch of Jigawa State’s Campaign Against Drug Abuse and Mass Mobilisation for Societal Reorientation, where Governor Umar Namadi signed two executive orders establishing state task forces to fight drug abuse and promote moral values. He said drug screening should become a routine requirement before marriage, just like HIV and genotype tests. “Is there anyone prepared to marry off his or her daughter to a drug addict?” he asked, adding that the measure would help prevent family crises linked to substance abuse. Marwa also said the Federal Government had adopted a policy requiring students, especially those in tertiary institutions, to undergo drug tests before resumption. He urged states to procure certified testing kits from the NDLEA to ensure credibility. Describing drug abuse as a major driver of insecurity, crime and social instability, he said tackling the problem requires the support of parents, religious and traditional leaders, schools, civil society organisations and security agencies. He said the NDLEA arrested 77,859 suspected drug offenders, including 240 drug barons, secured 14,122 convictions and seized 14.8 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs between January 2021 and December 2025. More than 50,000 drug users, he added, have received counselling and rehabilitation. Marwa said Jigawa’s drug use prevalence stands at about seven per cent, one of the lowest in the country, and described the new task force as a proactive step to keep the figure low. Earlier, Governor Umar Namadi said the executive orders fulfilled promises under his administration’s 12-Point Agenda. He said one order focuses on drug abuse prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and enforcement support, while the other promotes patriotism, discipline, honesty and respect for the rule of law. The governor urged parents, teachers, religious and traditional leaders, community groups and development partners to support the campaign, stressing that the government alone cannot win the fight against drug abuse.
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