Dare Babalola
The Nigeria Customs Service has introduced a new policy making drug testing compulsory for all new recruits and serving officers, according to Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, who announced the development on Tuesday.
The Comptroller-General emphasized that the initiative is geared towards ensuring that only fit and substance-free individuals are recruited into the Service.
Given the agency’s critical functions, he said it was imperative to ensure personnel are not compromised, particularly in areas like border security and revenue collection.
He made the disclosure at the closing session of the Comptroller-General of Customs’ 2025 Conference in Abuja, according to a statement by Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada on Tuesday.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Customs Service has concluded arrangements to subject all incoming officers and men to a mandatory drug test as part of the ongoing recruitment exercise.
“A mandatory drug test would be carried out for all officers and men across all Zones, Commands and at the Headquarters. The Service would no longer tolerate a situation where personnel make sensitive decisions while under the influence of drugs.”
According to him, the policy will begin with fresh intakes but will also cover all serving officers across Zones, Commands and the Headquarters as the Service moves towards becoming what he described as “a fully drug-free institution.”
Adeniyi said the decision was partly informed by experiences in some commands where cases of erratic behaviour and questionable decisions were eventually traced to substance abuse.
“There will be no compromise. We are going to ensure that every new officer is tested so that we do not begin to spend Service resources rehabilitating personnel,” he said.
He warned that the Service would crack down on any drug-related lapses, stressing that officers handling sensitive roles require unimpaired judgment at all times.
He also urged personnel to prioritise regular medical checks, noting that both mental and physical fitness are essential for effective service delivery.
The new directive comes amid increased scrutiny of security agencies over the conduct of their personnel.
