The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has unveiled a new policy introducing compulsory drug tests for all prospective recruits and serving personnel
Adeniyi announced the directive on Tuesday at the closing session of the CGC’s 2025 Conference in Abuja, according to a statement issued by Customs spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada.
The Customs chief said the measure, which forms part of the ongoing recruitment exercise, is designed to ensure that individuals grappling with substance abuse do not find their way into the system.
He added that the Service can no longer afford the risks associated with impaired judgment among officers responsible for border security, enforcement operations and revenue collection.
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.”
Adeniyi explained that the implementation would begin with fresh intakes but will cover every serving officer as part of the Service’s plan to become, in his words, “a fully drug-free institution.”
He noted that the decision followed experiences in some commands where incidents of erratic behaviour and questionable judgment were later traced to substance use.
“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 CG cautioned that the era of operational lapses linked to drug influence was over, stressing that officers assigned to sensitive roles must maintain clear judgment at all times.
He further advised personnel to embrace routine medical checks, adding that mental and physical fitness remain essential for effective service delivery.
The directive comes amid heightened scrutiny of security agencies over the conduct of their personnel.
In recent years, agencies such as the police, immigration and correctional services have introduced random drug screening and psychological evaluations following cases of misconduct linked to substance abuse.
The Customs’ new regime also aligns with the long-standing advocacy of the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), who has consistently called on all law enforcement and uniformed organisations to institutionalise mandatory drug testing.
Marwa has maintained that Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign cannot succeed if security formations continue to harbour personnel dealing with substance dependence.
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The Customs reform is therefore viewed as part of broader measures to enhance discipline, minimise operational risks and strengthen public confidence in frontline officers.
