In a decisive move to fortify its ranks, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a new policy requiring all incoming recruits and serving officers to undergo a mandatory drug integrity test.
A New Era of Accountability
The directive was issued by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, through a statement from the service's National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Tuesday. This landmark decision is designed to prevent any compromises in the service's critical operations, which include revenue collection, enforcement, and border security.
The comptroller-general stated that arrangements have been finalized to subject all incoming personnel, including those already serving, to this mandatory screening. The initiative aims to ensure that no individual enters the service with substance-abuse tendencies that could impair their judgment, jeopardize security responsibilities, or undermine operational integrity.
Comprehensive Testing Across All Commands
While the new directive primarily targets the fresh intake of recruits, the service has confirmed that serving officers will also be part of the program as the NCS works towards establishing a fully drug-free institution. The mandatory drug test will be conducted for all personnel across every zone, command, and the national headquarters.
Mr. Adeniyi emphasized that the service will no longer tolerate a situation where personnel make sensitive decisions under the influence of drugs. He revealed that this policy was conceived following reports of incidents in some commands where erratic behaviour or poor decision-making was later linked to substance misuse.
"There will be no compromise," he asserted. "We are going to ensure that every new officer is tested so that we do not begin to spend service resources rehabilitating personnel." He declared that the era of overlooking early signs of substance abuse within the ranks is officially over.
Broader Security Context and Health Reminder
This internal cleansing effort by the NCS coincides with ongoing national initiatives to combat drug trafficking, a known enabler of violent crimes. In a related development, troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in Lokoja, Kogi State, intercepted a drug courier on Monday, November 24.
Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, reported that the operation led to the seizure of 108.8 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa being transported from Ekiti State to Obajana in Kogi. The suspect, Johnson Ayo, was apprehended, and the exhibits were handed over to the Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Concluding his statement, the Comptroller-General also reminded officers to prioritize their personal health by undergoing regular medical checks, underscoring the paramount importance of physical and mental fitness for effective service delivery to the nation.
