UBTH CMD Urges Government to Tackle Rising Drug Abuse Among Secondary, Tertiary Students

Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

The Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, has issued a stark and urgent warning about the escalating crisis of drug and substance abuse among students in secondary and tertiary institutions across Nigeria. Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Washington Osifo, in Benin on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the CMD called on governments at all levels to take deliberate and sustained action to confront what she described as a growing threat to the future of Nigerian youth. The visit was not merely a diplomatic courtesy. It was a direct appeal for institutional collaboration to save a generation that is being quietly consumed by addiction.

Ize-Iyamu stressed that addressing drug abuse requires more than identifying users. It demands a comprehensive approach built on early detection, confidential screening, and sustained counselling. She emphasised that the problem had moved beyond the shadows of urban slums and into the classrooms and campuses where Nigeria’s brightest minds are supposed to be nurtured. The CMD disclosed that the hospital had recently unveiled a Drug Testing Centre capable of screening for more than 14 substances, describing it as a vital resource in the fight against drug-related challenges. She advocated for routine, confidential screening of students in schools, arguing that early identification was the most effective way to prevent occasional experimentation from spiralling into full-blown addiction.

The proposal outlined by the CMD is practical and multi-pronged. It could involve UBTH medical teams visiting schools to conduct screening exercises, or students being referred to the hospital for testing where necessary. Crucially, Ize-Iyamu made it clear that the initiative is not designed to punish or stigmatise students who may be using drugs. Its purpose is to provide counselling, advice, and follow-up care for those who need support, with the most severe cases receiving appropriate care and rehabilitation at UBTH. “We look forward to partnering with the Edo State Ministry of Education to safeguard the future of our students,” she said. The CMD also highlighted that the problem was not restricted to students alone, noting that the intervention could be extended to the broader society.

The response from the Edo State Government was encouraging. Commissioner Osifo thanked UBTH for identifying a challenge that affects the entire society and for proposing a practical solution that could be adopted to address it. He assured the hospital management of the state government’s readiness to explore collaboration, adding that the intervention should not necessarily be restricted to students and schools alone. He promised to forward the proposal to the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for consideration and the development of the necessary legislative framework to domesticate the Federal Government’s policy in the state.

The urgency of the CMD’s call cannot be overstated. Drug and substance abuse among Nigerian youth has reached epidemic proportions, with devastating consequences for individuals, families, and the nation’s future. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has repeatedly raised alarms about the prevalence of cannabis, tramadol, codeine, and methamphetamine use among young Nigerians. Schools and universities, once sanctuaries of learning and character formation, have become hunting grounds for drug peddlers who prey on vulnerable students. The consequences are grim: academic failure, mental health crises, criminality, and in too many cases, death.

Prof. Ize-Iyamu’s decision to take the fight directly to the education system is a recognition that the crisis cannot be resolved by hospitals alone. By seeking collaboration with the Ministry of Education, she is advocating for a preventative approach that meets the problem where it starts. The Drug Testing Centre at UBTH, which was inaugurated in August 2026, represents a concrete step toward making that vision a reality. It is the first such facility in Nigeria’s South-South geopolitical zone, and its capacity to test for over 14 substances makes it a powerful tool for early intervention.

The meeting in Benin was attended by members of the UBTH Core Management Team, including the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee and Director of Clinical Services, Dr. Emmanuel Osaigbovo; Director of Administration, Jim Uwadiae; Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee for Research and Ethics, Prof. Adebola Ehizele; and Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Grace Arheghan. Their presence underscored the seriousness with which the hospital’s leadership views the crisis.

For parents, teachers, and students across Edo State and beyond, the CMD’s intervention offers a glimmer of hope. But hope must be matched with action. The proposed collaboration between UBTH and the Edo State Ministry of Education could serve as a model for other states if it is implemented effectively. It could transform schools from passive observers of the drug crisis into active partners in prevention, early detection, and support. But the window of opportunity is narrowing. Every day that passes without decisive action is another day that a student is lost to addiction. The CMD has sounded the alarm. It is now up to the government, educators, and communities to respond before the silent epidemic claims an entire generation.