Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa has emphasised the need for pre-marital drug tests as a key factor to a stable home.
Marwa made this suggestion at a conference organised by a non-government organisation (NGO) Coal to Diamond Support Network for young adults in Abuja at the weekend.
Marwa’s wife, who is the chief host of the conference, Mrs Munirat Marwa also emphasised the need for drug test before marriage, warning that drugs are destroying many marriages, families and communities.
At the conference, Marwa said substance use “has been known not only to destroy marriages but equally 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.”
Marwa who was represented at the conference by a Principal Staff Officer on Drug Demand Reduction in NDLEA, Shehu Dankolo, said the mental, physical and spiritual quality of life of individuals has definite impact on a society’s future.”
He said if would-be couples choose to undergo HIV and genotype tests before marriage without any law compelling them, they should equally consider drug test as critical to their wellbeing and stability of their home.
In her remarks, Marwa urged youths preparing for wedding to take drug test as part of their preparations, adding that there is a difference between wedding and marriage.
She explained: “The wedding as we all know it is a short time event while marriage is intended for a lifetime. As such, the conference has come at the right time when couples are putting more importance and emphasis on the wedding festivities rather than the marriage itself.
“It is therefore important we pay attention to preparing for the marriage and one of such ways is through pre-marital counselling and drug test. This prepares the couples very well and has the ability to reduce domestic violence, divorce as well as increase happiness and longevity in marriages.”
Other notable speakers at the conference include wife of former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, President of the Group, Bilkisu Mohammed and the keynote speaker, Alhaji Sa’id Takuma who all emphasised the need for proper counselling for would be couples to safeguard their marriages and future.
