The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Tuesday announced a policy requiring all new recruits and serving officers of the Nigeria Customs Service to undergo mandatory dr¥g testing. Part of the ongoing recruitment exercise, the initiative aims to prevent substance-dependent or unfit individuals from joining or continuing service in the agency.
Adeniyi said the move is necessary to safeguard the judgment of personnel handling border security, enforcement, and revenue collection. Speaking at the closing session of the CGC’s 2025 Conference in Abuja, he told Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada that the Service has “concluded arrangements to subject all incoming officers and men to a mandatory dr¥g test… The Service would no longer tolerate a situation where personnel make sensitive decisions while under the influence of dr¥gs.”
The policy will begin with new recruits and extend to all serving officers across zones, commands, and the headquarters as the agency works toward becoming “a fully drug-free institution.” Adeniyi cited past cases of erratic behavior and poor decisions linked to substance ab¥se as a driving factor.
He added, “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.” Officers in sensitive roles must maintain sound judgment at all times, while regular medical checks for mental and physical fitness were encouraged.
The directive aligns with reforms in other agencies, such as police, immigration, and correctional services, which have introduced random drug tests and psychological evaluations. It also echoes repeated calls by NDLEA chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) for security agencies to institutionalize drug testing to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against substance abuse and boost public trust.
The decision is seen as a key step to tighten discipline, reduce operational risks, and enhance confidence in the agency’s frontline officers.
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