*Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy of Nigeria鈥檚 National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, explains how and why a considerable number of state governments, as subnationals, are now making it 鈥榓 policy to ensure that whoever goes for an elective position鈥� or whoever is appointed to the state government 鈥榰ndergoes drug tests鈥�

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

As the agency intensifies campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse in Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said it recorded some achievements in its war against the abuse of narcotic substances, especially with the cooperation of state governments as subnationals in the West African country.

绿帽献妻 reports Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, stated this while featuring on a Channels TV programme Monday, February 10, 2025,

Babafemi disclosed that some state governments in Nigeria had embraced the NDLEA鈥檚 advocacy to make drug tests mandatory for appointees and employees.

He also stated: 鈥淚t鈥檚 an advocacy move and that has been going on since 2021.

“Quite a number of state governments are already making this a policy in their states to ensure that whoever goes for an elective position or whoever is appointed to the state government undergoes drug tests. That is going on.

鈥淟ike I said, it鈥檚 an advocacy move. It鈥檚 not a law; all we can do is to encourage the various stakeholders to buy into this.鈥�

According to him, some politicians also have been prosecuted for illicit involvement in hard drugs.

The Director of Media and Advocacy of NDLEA said: 鈥淚n the last four years, from our record, about 65 barons, including former public office holders had been arrested, prosecuted and convicted without mentioning anybody鈥檚 name to stigmatise them.鈥�

Babafemi further noted some of those arrested and prosecuted by the Buba Marwa-led agency had 鈥渉eld offices may be at the level of the local government chairmanship position.

Even as I speak, we still have quite a number of high-profile persons who are undergoing prosecution at the moment.鈥�

The Spokesman of NDLEA further said beyond being a policy for political positions, employers and tertiary institutions have also embraced drug tests as part of their screening process to admit new talents.

Babafemi said, 鈥淭his is going on not only at the level of politics or those seeking employment but also at the level of our young ones 鈥� those going into tertiary institutions 鈥� to ensure that they also undergo this test.

鈥淲e are glad that indeed this is going on around the country, in institutions 鈥� we have seen these institutions, both private and public make that a policy. All of this is to drive down the demand for illicit substances by young people.鈥�

The anti-narcotics regulatory agency has also pushed for prospective couples to undergo drug tests, said he.

The Director added that traditional and religious institutions are subscribing to the drug tests initiative across the country already.

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