Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Chairman, suggested to the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Fadah l, who was on a visit to the agency in Abuja, that youth corps members should be subjected to drug tests as they arrive at orientation camps all over the country to start their one-year national service program.
He added that this would reduce the number of youths on drugs because they would have to abstain from taking drugs if they are aware that they would be tested for it at the youth corps camp. He also said that the NDLEA cannot do this alone, hence they need the support of organizations like the NYSC.
He further went on to address the lack of rehabilitation and counseling centers in the country, saying that the agency needed these centers at the grassroots and as they do not have enough personnel to cover many areas, the youth corps could fill in for them and be trained as counselors to help rehabilitate and reduce the demand for drugs.
“We can train them in their numbers to serve as counselors at the grassroots level because the majority of drug users only need counseling.”
