The President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Professor Mathew Adamu, has called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) to reactivate anti-drug clubs in tertiary institutions nationwide as part of renewed efforts to curb substance abuse among young Nigerians.
Adamu made the appeal on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by a VCN delegation to the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Mohammed Buba Marwa, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said restoring anti-drug clubs in schools would strengthen awareness campaigns, promote responsible behaviour among students, and deepen early prevention strategies against drug abuse across campuses.
Drawing on his experience as the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Adamu noted that the institution had introduced mandatory drug screening for newly admitted students as part of broader efforts to discourage substance use and maintain a healthy academic environment.
He commended the NDLEA for its ongoing anti-drug operations, particularly its deployment of trained detector dogs at airports and strategic border points, describing the initiative as a significant boost to drug interdiction efforts.
The VCN President also advocated for increased involvement of veterinary professionals in NDLEA operations, citing their expertise in canine management, drug detection support, public health, and security-related functions.
Responding, Marwa welcomed the proposal, disclosing that plans were already in progress to revive anti-drug clubs in schools and tertiary institutions nationwide.
He said the initiative would help strengthen student sensitisation, discourage drug abuse, and reinforce positive values among young people.
Marwa reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to expanding collaboration with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria in areas such as capacity building, canine services, public health, and drug control operations.
He also announced plans to extend the deployment of trained sniffer dogs to additional airports across the country, describing them as critical assets in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking.
Abuja Times reports that the visit underscored growing institutional cooperation between the Veterinary Council of Nigeria and the NDLEA in advancing public health, security, and drug prevention initiatives across Nigeria.