The Federal Government has directed universities and other tertiary institutions across Nigeria to temporarily suspend students repeatedly found guilty of drug abuse, in what education stakeholders have described as one of the strongest anti-substance abuse measures introduced in the nation’s higher education system in recent years.
The directive is contained in the newly introduced National Implementation Guidelines Against Drugs and Substance Use in Schools in Nigeria (Tertiary Institutions), a policy framework designed to regulate drug testing, counselling, rehabilitation and disciplinary procedures within campuses across the country.
According to the guidelines, students who repeatedly test positive for illicit substances after undergoing multiple screening stages and rehabilitation procedures may be removed from the academic environment pending professional treatment and recovery.
The policy mandates all tertiary institutions to begin compulsory drug integrity tests for newly admitted students in partnership with approved healthcare facilities. Authorities explained that the initiative is intended to identify students struggling with substance abuse early enough and provide intervention before the situation escalates.
Under the framework, students who fail the first screening would undergo counselling and treatment programmes before being subjected to another round of testing. Those who continue to test positive after the second and third stages would face temporary suspension from campus activities to undergo professional rehabilitation.
The document stated that students who refuse to comply with treatment or rehabilitation processes could also be separated from the school environment until they are medically certified stable enough to return to academic activities.
Education officials noted that the policy was introduced amid increasing concerns over the growing prevalence of drug abuse among young Nigerians, particularly within universities, polytechnics and colleges of education where cases linked to cultism, violence, mental health disorders and poor academic performance have continued to rise.
The guidelines also directed institutions to conduct periodic drug screenings for returning students at least once every academic session as part of broader efforts to maintain safe and healthy learning environments.
Beyond students, the policy extends to business operators and vendors within campuses. The Federal Government warned that shop owners or commercial operators linked to drug-related activities risk losing their operational licences and may also be reported to security agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Authorities argued that the increasing abuse of substances such as cannabis, tramadol, codeine and other psychoactive drugs among youths had become a serious public health and security issue requiring urgent institutional response.
The government further directed tertiary institutions to establish disciplinary committees under student affairs divisions to oversee implementation, compliance and enforcement of the guidelines within campuses.
Analysts within the education sector believe the latest directive signals a shift from mere advocacy campaigns to stricter institutional regulations aimed at curbing substance abuse among students while combining disciplinary measures with counselling and rehabilitation support.
In recent years, anti-drug advocacy campaigns by the Federal Government and the NDLEA have intensified across schools following repeated warnings from experts that drug abuse among youths is contributing to insecurity, academic decline and social instability in many institutions.
Stakeholders, however, insist that while disciplinary actions may help deter substance abuse, authorities must also address underlying factors driving drug dependency among young people, including unemployment, peer pressure, poor mental health support systems and increasing economic hardship.
The policy is expected to trigger fresh debates within academic communities over the balance between discipline, rehabilitation and students’ rights as institutions begin implementation across campuses nationwide.
