CHAIRMAN and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) has asserted that pre-marital drug tests are a key factor in guaranteeing a stable home.
Marwa spoke at a conference organised by a non-governmental organisation, Coal to Diamond Support Network, for young adults on Saturday, 4th September, 2021, in Abuja, where his wife, Hajia Munirat Marwa, the chief host of the event, also emphasised the same, warning that drugs have destroyed many marriages, families and communities.
Marwa, who was represented at the conference by Shehu Dankolo, a principal staff officer on Drug Demand Reduction for NDLEA, said “substance use has been known to not only destroy marriages but also lead to health problems, morbidity, injuries, violence, and death. Most often, the physical, psychological and social consequences of drug use are very obvious and disturbing.
“The mental, physical and spiritual quality of life of individuals has a definite impact on a society’s future,” he further said.
In her remarks, Hajia Munirat Marwa urged youths preparing for marriage to make drug tests part of their preparations, adding that there is a difference between wedding and marriage.
In her words, “the wedding as we all know it is a short time event while marriage is intended for a lifetime. It is therefore important we pay attention to preparing for the marriage and one of such ways is through pre-marital counseling and drug tests. This prepares the couples very well and has the ability to reduce domestic violence, divorce as well as increase happiness and longevity in marriages.”