Abuja: An NGO, Anti-Kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Child Abuse and Drug Abuse Initiative (AKH-TRACADA), has called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to introduce compulsory drug testing for key national institutions and road safety protocols in Nigeria. This initiative is aimed at ensuring safety and reducing drug abuse across the nation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Founder and Executive Director of AKH-TRACADA, Belonwu Ezeanyaeche, suggested in an interview that the proposed drug tests should be mandatory for candidates participating in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations, and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members. He emphasized the importance of including commercial drivers, especially those driving lorries and buses, in the drug testing protocol prior to the issuance or renewal of driver’s licenses, recommending a six-month interval for such tests.
Ezeanyaeche highlighted that a driver under the influence of illicit drugs faces significant risks, including sleeping while driving, speeding, loss of consciousness, dangerous overtaking, and poor judgment, which contribute to the majority of road accidents. Data from road safety and public health stakeholders indicates that human errors linked to drug abuse account for over 95 percent of road traffic accidents in Nigeria.
The incorporation of a drug-testing system in the education sector is expected to tackle drug abuse and curb cultism, reducing criminal tendencies and fostering a more secure academic environment. Ezeanyaeche pointed out that mandatory drug tests for students would minimize drug abuse, improve mental health, and promote quality education outcomes.
Furthermore, early detection and testing are seen as crucial in protecting Nigerian youths from exposure to substances due to peer pressure, cult activities, poverty, and exploitation. The drug testing policy is also aimed at contributing to the fight against human trafficking, child abuse, and other crimes by addressing a key enabler.
Ezeanyaeche called on the Ministries of Education, Youth Development, Transportation, and Health to collaborate with the NDLEA and Civil Society Organizations to develop a multi-sectoral framework for implementing this initiative. He urged stakeholders in the transport industry to support the initiative, emphasizing that public support is vital for building a safer, healthier, and more productive society.
The NGO reiterated its commitment to working with relevant government agencies to ensure that the drug testing initiative becomes a permanent policy in Nigeria.