THE Federal Government has introduced stringent new measures aimed at combating drug and substance abuse in secondary schools, including mandatory drug testing for students and temporary suspension for those who repeatedly test positive after undergoing treatment and rehabilitation procedures.
News Point Nigeria reports that the measures are contained in the National Implementation Guidelines Against Drug and Substance Use in Schools in Nigeria for secondary schools, details of which were obtained by our correspondent.
According to the guideline, all newly admitted students in secondary schools will now be subjected to compulsory drug integrity tests at the point of entry.
The document outlines a comprehensive framework designed to reduce the growing prevalence of substance abuse among students and create safer learning environments across schools nationwide.
According to the policy document, the initiative is intended to “create a conducive environment for teaching and learning in the institutions by reducing the negative effect substance abuse has on the mental health and academic performance of students/learners.”
The guideline further states that “all new students/learners shall be subjected to drug tests and other measures approved by the schools/learning centres at the point of entry,” adding that the process must be carried out “in collaboration with approved federal/state health facilities and procedures.”
In addition to admission screening, schools are expected to conduct periodic and impromptu drug tests for both new and returning students at least once every academic session.
The document provides that “all students/learners shall undergo periodic drug tests as recommended by appropriate authorities.”
It also prohibits students from using or possessing narcotic drugs, controlled substances or other drugs of abuse without authorisation from school authorities.
“All students/learners are prohibited from using or being in possession of narcotic drugs, controlled drugs or substances of abuse without approval from the school authority,” the guideline stated.
However, the policy noted that students requiring controlled medication for medical conditions must declare such medications through their parents or guardians during admission.
The new framework establishes a three-stage testing and intervention process for students who test positive to drug use.
According to the document, “the aim is to identify students who may need help and to promote a safe and healthy school environment.”
Students who fail the first drug test will undergo counselling and initial treatment as determined by school authorities.
The document explained that “persons found to be positive to drugs shall undergo the initial intervention and treatment, which shall include counselling as might be found appropriate by the school authority.”
Those who test positive a second time will be referred to professionals for specialised treatment and further attention.
The guideline added that “if found positive again, such a student shall be referred to a professional by the school authority to take appropriate treatment and attention that might be required.”
For students who continue to test positive after a third round of testing and intervention, the policy provides that they may be temporarily suspended from the school environment.
It states that “if found to be positive again, such a student shall be temporarily suspended from the school environment to take treatment from a professional and undergo rehabilitation that might be found appropriate by the professional.”
The policy also introduces mandatory pre-test and post-test counselling for students undergoing screening.
According to the document, “pre-test counselling is the guidance given before a person undergoes a drug integrity test. It aims to prepare the individual, clarify expectations, reduce anxiety, encourage cooperation and build trust.”
It added that “post-test counselling happens after results are available, regardless of whether the test is positive or negative. The goal is to support the individual to accept the result and link them to the right help.”
To ensure compliance, every school is expected to establish a disciplinary committee headed by the school administrator with clearly defined responsibilities.
The guideline further directed that violent incidents linked to substance abuse, including fighting or inflicting injuries, “shall be reported to the law enforcement agents.”
It also warned that students who refuse to comply with prescribed treatment or rehabilitation procedures would be temporarily separated from the school environment “until he/she is found to be stable.”
The development comes amid growing concerns over increasing cases of drug and substance abuse among adolescents in Nigeria, with education and health stakeholders warning about its effects on academic performance, discipline, mental health and school security.
While supporters argue that the measures could help curb substance abuse among students, critics are expected to raise concerns over implementation capacity, student welfare protections and the readiness of schools and health facilities to effectively implement the policy nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced that it will hold its 2026 Policy Meeting on Monday (today), during which key decisions on admissions into tertiary institutions across Nigeria will be considered, including the approval of minimum cut-off marks for the 2026 admission exercise.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its Public Communications Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the Board said the meeting would be chaired by the Minister of Education and would bring together stakeholders across the education sector to determine “guidelines for the 2026 admission exercise into all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”
According to the statement, the session will also review and adopt admission benchmarks, including what it described as “the determination of the minimum tolerable scores for admissions,” which traditionally guide entry requirements into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The Board also disclosed that the 2026 Policy Meeting would host a delegation from Sierra Leone, including the country’s Deputy Minister of Education, Sarjoh Aziz Kamara, alongside two vice-chancellors — Edwin Momoh of Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology and Bashiru Koroma of Njala University.
The Sierra Leonean officials, according to the statement, are in Nigeria to “understudy the nation’s centralised admission system” as their country considers establishing a similar body to streamline its own tertiary admissions process.
They were earlier taken through JAMB’s examination and admission procedures at its headquarters in Bwari.
During the policy meeting, the delegation is also expected to observe how stakeholders are integrated into Nigeria’s admission process, which the Board described as a coordinated value chain involving multiple actors.
The visiting delegation reportedly expressed appreciation to JAMB, noting that rising admission demand in Sierra Leone had created serious challenges, while the Nigerian model “offers practical solutions to issues they had long sought to address.”
Reaffirming the Board’s role in the education sector, the statement added that the admission structure overseen by JAMB remains central to tertiary placement in Nigeria, suggesting that critics of its existence “may better appreciate its strategic importance” in a scenario without it.