Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has emphasised the need for pre-marital drug test as a key factor to a stable home.
Marwa spoke at a conference organised by a Non Governmental Organization, Coal to Diamond Support Network, for young adults on Saturday, September 4, 2021, in Abuja.
His wife, Hajia Munirat Marwa, who is the chief host of the event, also stressed the need for drug test before marriage, warning that drugs had destroying many marriages, families and communities, the
Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement.
Speaking on the dire consequences of drug abuse, Gen. Marwa, who was represented at the conference by a Principal Staff Officer on Drug Demand Reduction in NDLEA, Shehu Dankolo, said that substance use had been known to destroy not only marriages, but also lead to health problems, morbidity, injuries, violence, and death, adding that most often, the physical, psychological and social consequences of drug use were very obvious and disturbing.
According to him, the mental, physical and spiritual quality of life of individuals had definite impact on a society’s future, adding that if would-be couples would 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 homes.
In her remarks, Hajia Munirat Marwa urged youths preparing for wedding to take drug tests as part of their preparations, pointing out the 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. 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 counseling 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 included wife of former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo; president of the group, Bilkisu Mohammed and the keynote speaker, Alhaji Said Takuma, who all emphasized the need for proper counseling for would-be couples to safeguard their marriages and future.
