Drama as KWASUED Orders Mandatory NDLEA Drug Test Before Admission Clearance

Drama as KWASUED Orders newly admitted students to undergo a compulsory NDLEA drug test has stirred unrest on campus, as fresh intakes lament the rising financial demands accompanying their admission. The institution’s decision to enforce the drug screening policy, coupled with the ₦7,500 fee attached to the process, has triggered widespread frustration among those seeking clearance.

New Directive Sparks Reactions Across Campus

The tension began after the Kwara State University of Education (KWASUED), Ilorin, released an official directive mandating all fresh students to take part in a Drug Integrity Test supervised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). According to a statement issued by the Office of the Registrar and made available to Naijanez.com, the university insisted that no newly admitted student would complete their clearance without fulfilling this requirement.

The announcement instructed each student to log on to the NDLEA portal at drugandvisa.ndlea.gov.ng to register and book an appointment for the screening. The management emphasized that the notification and certification issued after the test must be submitted alongside previously screened documents before clearance would be granted.

The directive read in part:
“It is now mandatory for all students to register and schedule an online appointment for the drug integrity test. Every student must present the notification and drug test certificate before final clearance.”

KWASUED reiterated that the exercise was non-negotiable, stressing that students who failed to comply risked losing their admission for the academic session.

Fresh Students Challenge Timing and Cost of the Policy

Following the announcement, anger spread among newly admitted students who argued that the university’s decision was sudden, poorly communicated, and financially unfair. Many who spoke to the media insisted that although drug-free learning environments should be encouraged, the burden of payment should not be shifted entirely to students.

A fresh student who shared her frustration with Legit.ng said, “We are already dealing with high tuition and hostel expenses. Adding another ₦7,500 for a test we didn’t plan for is stressful. Why wasn’t this included in the fees we already paid? It feels like an extra bill dropped on us at the last minute.”

Another student criticized the administration for being “insensitive,” considering the economic hardship many families currently face. She stated that the policy may have noble intentions, but its poor timing and unexpected financial implication made it appear exploitative.

“This is just another expense added to the long list we already struggle with. Transport, feeding, hostel fees—everything is expensive. If the drug test was truly essential, they should have merged it with our acceptance or service charges,” she said.

Students Demand Inclusion in Existing Charges

Some students expressed that while they support initiatives aimed at promoting discipline, safety, and health, the university must ensure such policies are implemented in a way that considers students’ financial realities. They argued that the sudden nature of this new requirement created unnecessary tension and panic among freshers already trying to settle into school life.

According to them, incorporating the test into existing charges would have helped students plan better and reduced the feeling that the school was imposing unexpected levies. Many insisted that the Drama as KWASUED Orders approach to the directive made it appear more like a penalty than a safety measure.

Uncertainty as Students Await Management’s Response as protests continue in different parts of the campus, fresh students are now waiting to see whether the university will review the fee or adjust the policy. For now, the directive remains unchanged, leaving many anxious about their clearance deadlines.

The situation has sparked broader conversations on how tertiary institutions can balance discipline policies with the financial realities students face—especially in a challenging economic period.