The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has ordered the compulsory drug screening of all new recruits and serving personnel of the Service as part of a sweeping reform to strengthen professionalism, discipline and national security.
Adeniyi announced the new directive during the closing session of the 2025 Comptroller-General of Customs Conference held in Abuja, saying the measure has become necessary to eliminate substance-induced lapses that could compromise sensitive Customs operations.
According to the Customs chief, drug screening will now be incorporated into the final stages of the recruitment process before candidates proceed to training.
He noted that the initiative, though designed primarily for new intakes, will also apply to serving officers, who will undergo periodic tests as part of routine medical and fitness checks.
“The new directive is aimed primarily at fresh intakes, but serving officers will also be captured as we move toward establishing a fully drug-free institution,” he stated.
Adeniyi emphasised that the Service would no longer tolerate circumstances where officers involved in revenue collection, enforcement duties, or border security operate under the influence of drugs.
He disclosed that investigations into past incidents of erratic behaviour in some Commands revealed links to substance misuse.
“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 explained that the drug testing initiative would be carried out across all Zones, Commands and at the Service Headquarters.
He said officers holding sensitive responsibilities, from border enforcement to anti-smuggling operations, must maintain clear judgment and a stable mental state at all times.
Adeniyi also advised officers to take their personal health seriously by undergoing regular medical check-ups. He described physical and mental fitness as essential pillars of effective service delivery and national security.
The Customs boss reiterated that the reforms being implemented will ensure that only mentally sound and physically fit personnel are entrusted with strategic Customs duties.
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