FG Set To Introduce Compulsory Drug Testing For Undergraduates

This decision is not supported by scientific evidence. The students are not the enemy,” he said. Piwuna warned that drug testing could push substance use underground and suggested investing in preventive programmes such as counselling and peer education instead.

Andrew Haruna, Secretary of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors, also raised concerns about implementation. He noted the severe infrastructural and staffing challenges in universities, pointing out that many institutions are already struggling with overcrowded hostels and striking health workers. “Fix the environment first,” Haruna said. “Let us not politicise or oversimplify a serious public health issue.”

He questioned how the government intends to sustain the programme and manage its continuity, especially in the face of frequent academic disruptions. Haruna and other critics have called for more inclusive policymaking and a focus on systemic improvements in education infrastructure and student welfare.

Punch Newspaper