The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Tuesday announced a policy introducing compulsory drug testing for both new recruits and serving officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Adeniyi explained that the initiative, part of the ongoing recruitment exercise, is intended to prevent individuals with substance dependencies from joining the Service. He emphasized the need for personnel entrusted with border security, enforcement, and revenue collection to maintain unimpaired judgment.
He made this known at the closing session of the CGC’s 2025 Conference in Abuja, according to a statement by Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada.
**“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.”**
Adeniyi said the policy will start with new intakes but will eventually extend to all serving officers across Zones, Commands, and Headquarters as the Service moves toward becoming “a fully drug-free institution.”
He noted that the decision was partly influenced by incidents in some commands where erratic behaviour and questionable decisions were 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.
The Customs chief warned that the Service will no longer tolerate lapses linked to drug use, stressing that officers in sensitive enforcement roles must always exercise sound judgment. He also urged personnel to undergo regular medical checks, highlighting that both mental and physical fitness are vital for effective service delivery.
This directive comes amid heightened scrutiny of security agencies over personnel conduct. In recent years, agencies such as the police, immigration, and correctional services have implemented random drug tests and psychological evaluations following misconduct linked to substance abuse.
Adeniyi’s directive follows calls from the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), who has urged all security and law enforcement agencies to institutionalize mandatory drug tests. Marwa has repeatedly stated that Nigeria’s fight against drug abuse and trafficking cannot succeed if security agencies harbour personnel struggling with substance dependency.
The new drug-testing regime is therefore seen as part of broader reforms to tighten discipline, reduce operational risks, and boost public confidence in the Customs Service.
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