A recent decision by the Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, to conduct an antidoping test on its students who are vying for various positions in its forthcoming Student Union Government (SUG) elections has continued to generate mixed reactions from stakeholders in the society.
The Institution had in an Internal Memo titled, ‘COMPULSORY DRUG TEST FOR ALL CONTESTANTS OF THE SUG ELECTION’ with reference number: SU/REG/229/VOL.21/56, and dated May 29, 2026 notified the University community of the development.
According to the memo, the Management of Rivers State University, in furtherance of its partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), decided to conduct a compulsory drug test for contestants of the SUG polls, stressing that it would henceforth be a mandatory criterion for eligibility in upcoming elections.
Reacting to the situation, a Port Harcourt resident, Mercy Pepple, expressed dissatisfaction with the decision by the institution, pointing out that subjecting students to drug tests before contesting elections does not guarantee that they will stay drug free upon assumption of office.
“Are they athletes? Why them go ask them for drug test. It’s of no use because after the election the person can start using it.”
She further advised that some of the political leaders, who, according to her, are acting like drug addicts should be the ones to undergo drug tests.
“If someone is a drug addict, it’s easy to spot them. Make them go test our Senators and President because they are acting like drugged people. Their acts no be here, crazy things they are doing and saying.”
“Abeg, make them conduct the election, leave the drug test, jareh,” she stated.
She added that there should be more focus on the dealers, stressing that “if they want to really help reduce it, then, it’s the sellers of the drugs that they should focus on,” adding “what of if you test and find out that they are not users but sellers?”
“This is because most sellers don’t use. So, it’s those bringing and selling that should be targeted more not users. Some users are struggling to stop, but it’s always brought to their face. So, you might have them all tested and they pass, but you don’t know if they are dealers”.
Conversely, a former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ibim Semenitari, applauded the university’s decision, stressing that it is a positive step towards rendering the society drug free.
“I think it is an appropriate step. Ensuring a drug free community is important.”
Also corroborating her position, a former Chairman of Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, Sogbeye Eli threw his full weight behind the decision of the Rivers State University.
According to him, “the law establishing the University creates organs and authorities for its proper administration or management. To that extent, where the decisions or policies of the institution accords with the statutory powers of the authorities, the same is not questionable”.
He described the move as “a welcome development” and timely as, according to him, it will flush out leaders who are addicted to banned and prohibited substances from the Students Union Government.
Eli also attributed most of the insecurity and violent conducts recorded on university campuses to drug dependency on the side of members of the SUG.
“In my view, the conduct of drug tests on contestants for the Students Union Government is most welcome to stave off the election of student leaders who are burdened with addiction to banned or prohibited substances.
“This is not only a moral and health issue, it is an insecurity issue as facts abound to show that some of the incidents of terrorism and cult violence that we have recorded in Nigerian tertiary institutions are directly traceable to drug abuse,” he said.
Earlier, a former Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Leyii Kwanee, praised the RSU management for the innovation, saying it would help reduce the menace of drug use and abuse among young people.
He equally admonished the institution’s management, as well as other tertiary education institutions to go beyond conducting elections, and extend it to both matriculating and graduating students.
The lawmaker advised that the antidoping test should be conducted at the point where the students are doing their clearance as part of the admission process and also as part of their exit strategy.
As the statistics show that Illicit ingestion, proliferation and abuse of banned or controlled substances have increasingly become the undoing of many young people, the decision of the Rivers State University presents a window of opportunity to stem the trend.