Customs CG orders mandatory drug test for incoming recruits, serving officers

To build a sound workforce, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has ordered all incoming officers and men to be subjected to a mandatory drug test as part of the ongoing recruitment exercise.

Adeniyi, who disclosed this during the closing session of the CGC’s 2025 Conference in Abuja, said 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.

According to him, 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.”

He said a mandatory drug test would be carried out for all officers and men across all Zones, Commands and at the Headquarters, noting that the Service would no longer tolerate a situation where personnel make sensitive decisions while under the influence of drugs.

Adeniyi explained that the decision was informed by experiences where erratic behaviour or poor decision-making in some Commands was later linked to substance misuse.

He said, “There will be no compromise. We are going to ensure that eavery new officer is tested so that we do not begin to spend Service resources rehabilitating personnel.”

He warned that the era of overlooking early signs of substance abuse in the ranks was over, stressing that officers assigned to revenue collection, enforcement and border security must possess sound judgment at all times.

He also reminded officers to prioritise their personal health and undergo regular medical checks, stating that physical and mental fitness remain essential to effective service delivery.