The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Tuesday announced a new policy that mandates compulsory drug testing for all recruits and serving officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Adeniyi said the move, which forms part of the ongoing recruitment exercise, is aimed at ensuring that unfit or substance-dependent individuals do not gain entry into the Service.
He noted that the agency could no longer risk compromised judgment among personnel entrusted with border security, enforcement, and revenue collection.
He made this known at the closing session of the CGC’s 2025 Conference in Abuja, as quoted in a statement issued by Customs spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Tuesday.
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.”
According to him, the policy will begin with fresh intakes but will also cover all serving officers across Zones, Commands and the Headquarters as the Service moves towards becoming what he described as “a fully drug-free institution.”
Adeniyi said the decision was partly informed by experiences in some commands where cases of erratic behaviour and questionable decisions were eventually traced to substance abuse.
“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 Customs boss warned that the Service would no longer tolerate lapses linked to drug use, stressing that officers handling sensitive enforcement roles must maintain sound judgment at all times.
He also urged personnel to prioritise regular medical checks, noting that both mental and physical fitness are essential for effective service delivery.
The new directive comes amid increased scrutiny of security agencies over the conduct of their personnel.
In recent years, several agencies, including the police, immigration, and correctional services, have introduced random drug tests and psychological evaluations following incidents of misconduct linked to substance abuse.
The Customs’ new drug-testing regime comes months after the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) publicly urged all security, law enforcement, and uniformed agencies to institutionalise mandatory drug tests for their personnel.
Marwa has repeatedly warned that Nigeria’s fight against drug abuse and trafficking cannot succeed if the security agencies themselves harbour individuals struggling with substance dependency.
The renewed push by the Customs CG is therefore seen as part of wider reforms to tighten discipline, reduce operational risks, and strengthen public confidence in the Service’s frontline officers.