Hajia Fatima Abiola-Popoola, Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Kwara State, has called on the National Universities Commission to make drug testing a mandatory requirement for admission into tertiary institutions.
Speaking to journalists in Ilorin on Sunday, she emphasized that students should undergo drug tests as a condition for admission to universities.
This measure, she argued, would help prevent drug abuse, which is on the rise in the country, particularly among females.
“According to a 2018 survey, 14.3 million people are using drugs in Nigeria; one out of seven persons in Nigeria is a drug user, while one out of every four drug users is a woman.
“This shows that the society is in trouble. This is because a woman is the administrator of the home and now that women have started abusing drugs, then the society is in trouble,” she said.
Abiola-Popoola emphasized the importance of collaboration with traditional rulers in combating drug trafficking and abuse, noting that achieving success in this fight relies heavily on the support and involvement of stakeholders, particularly those influenced by traditional institutions.
She stressed that a collective effort, led by traditional leaders, is crucial in tackling the drug menace.
“The traditional rulers have some control over their people and they are the closest to the communities.
“Whenever they say a word, it almost becomes a law among their people who hold them in high esteem. They have a stronghold of their communities, and that is why they are very important in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
“We have been making use of the traditional rulers over the years. When traditional heads rise in their respective communities against drug traffickers, their people will join them in the fight.
“In 2021, the then President, Muhammadu Buhari, launched the War Against Drug Abuse and in launching it, all traditional rulers were represented because the aim of this WADA is community mobilisation, which will be led by the traditional rulers,” she noted.
Abiola-Popoola urged traditional rulers to take an active role in monitoring their communities by appointing individuals to gather intelligence on drug activities and to seek assistance from the NDLEA when necessary.
She recalled her earlier meeting with the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, who is also the Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers, and expressed appreciation for his support of the agency’s new leadership in the state.
“The Emir of Ilorin assured us of his support and cooperation. He even promised that other traditional heads in Kwara State will support us because any community that we are going into will be informed that we are coming, and this is very important for us, and we are grateful to the Emir,” she highlighted.
