By Atoyebi Nike
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has announced a new policy requiring mandatory drug testing for all recruits and serving officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Speaking at the closing session of the CGC’s 2025 Conference in Abuja, Adeniyi said the policy aims to prevent substance-dependent individuals from joining or continuing in the Service.
“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 Service would no longer tolerate a situation where personnel make sensitive decisions while under the influence of drugs,” Adeniyi said, as quoted in a statement by Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada.
The policy will initially cover new recruits but will eventually include all serving officers across all zones, commands, and headquarters, as the service works towards becoming a fully drug-free institution. Adeniyi cited past incidents where erratic behavior and poor decisions were linked to substance abuse, stressing that there will be no compromise.
Officers handling sensitive enforcement roles are expected to maintain sound judgment at all times. Adeniyi also encouraged regular medical checks, highlighting that both mental and physical fitness are essential for effective service delivery.
The new directive aligns with broader reforms in Nigeria’s security sector. In recent years, agencies including the police, immigration, and correctional services have introduced random drug tests and psychological evaluations following misconduct linked to substance abuse.
The move comes months after the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), urged all security agencies to institutionalize mandatory drug testing to bolster Nigeria’s fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
The Customs CG’s initiative is seen as part of efforts to tighten discipline, reduce operational risks, and restore public confidence in the integrity of the Service’s officers.
