In a renewed push to strengthen discipline and uphold integrity within its ranks, the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced a mandatory drug test for applicants in the ongoing recruitment exercise, with plans to extend the measure to serving personnel.
According to a statement issued by the Customs Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Dr. Abdullahi Maiwada, the directive aligns with resolutions reached at the just-concluded Comptroller-General Conference in Abuja. The move, he said, is intended to curb “erratic behaviour or poor decision-making” linked to substance misuse.
Part of the statement reads: “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.
“The measure was designed to ensure that no recruit enters the Service with substance-abuse tendencies that could compromise judgment, security responsibilities, or operational integrity.
“The new directive is aimed primarily at the fresh intake of recruits, but serving officers will also be captured as the Service moves towards establishing what he described as ‘a fully drug-free institution.’
“A mandatory drug test would be carried out for all officers and men across all Zones, Commands and at the Headquarters as the Service would no longer tolerate a situation where personnel make sensitive decisions while under the influence of drugs.”
Speaking on the development, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, said the decision stemmed from past incidents in which questionable conduct in some Commands was later traced to drug abuse.
He said, “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.”
Adeniyi stressed that the era of ignoring early warning signs of substance abuse within the Service had come to an end, noting that officers entrusted with revenue collection, enforcement duties, and border security must consistently demonstrate sound judgment.
He further urged personnel to prioritise their health through regular medical check-ups, emphasising that both physical and mental fitness are indispensable to effective service delivery.
