The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has pledged to strengthen collaboration with higher institutions in Kwara State to prevent drug abuse among students.

The Kwara State Commander of the agency, Fatima Popoola, gave the assurance in Ilorin on Wednesday during a drug abuse sensitisation programme organised by the NDLEA in collaboration with Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.

Popoola said the agency was concerned about the welfare and future of students and would continue to work with educational institutions to prevent illegal substance use from affecting their lives and academic pursuits.

She also advised landlords and house agents to exercise caution when renting properties and hostels, urging them to properly know their tenants and occupants to prevent their premises from being used for drug-related activities.

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Prof. Luqman Jimoh, reaffirmed the university's zero-tolerance policy towards drug abuse and other social vices.

Jimoh described drug abuse as one of the major social and public health challenges confronting the country, warning that it could negatively affect academic performance, fuel criminal activities, destroy careers and jeopardise the future of young people.

Also speaking, the youth leader in Malete community, Aremu Usman, expressed the community's readiness to collaborate with the NDLEA and KWASU in tackling drug trafficking and abuse in the area.

Usman appealed to the agency to strengthen its presence in Malete, assuring that the community was willing to support the initiative, including by providing additional land for the construction of office accommodation.

He said stronger cooperation among the NDLEA, the university and the community would help create a safer environment for students and residents while reducing drug-related activities in the area.