The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, has called on parents and schools to acquire drug testing kits as part of efforts to curb early exposure to substance abuse among young people.
Marwa gave the advice on Monday at the opening ceremony of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Competition 2025, held in Abuja.
He warned that substance abuse was robbing Nigerian youths of ambition, hope, and a promising future, stressing that early detection was key to prevention.
> “It is better to catch drug use early than wait until it becomes an addiction,” Marwa said.
He urged parents to spend more time with their children, pay attention to warning signs, and avoid neglect.
> “Drug abuse destroys ambition. It extinguishes hope. It robs young people of a bright future that rightfully belongs to them,” he added.
Commending DEPOWA for using the competition as a sports-based drug abuse prevention programme themed ‘Live Free, Stay Clean’, Marwa said sports should remain a noble pursuit that rewards discipline, hard work, and integrity, not shortcuts rooted in drug abuse.
He also encouraged schools without drug-free clubs to establish them, assuring that the NDLEA was ready to support their creation nationwide.
> “To our dear students here today, use sports as a healthy outlet, build resilience, and stay drug-free. Remember, saying no to drugs is saying yes to your future,” Marwa advised.
Marwa, who recalled his years as a student-athlete in the Nigerian Army hockey team, described sports as a powerful tool for building resilience, teamwork, and discipline. He formally declared the four-week DEPOWA sports competition open and wished participants success in both their games and their commitment to drug-free living.
Earlier, Lead Facilitator Mr. David Folaranmi inaugurated Peer Advocates in the participating schools to champion anti-drug abuse campaigns. He also shared his personal experience as a former drug user and urged the students to do everything possible to avoid substance abuse.
