The Nigeria Customs Service has approved a compulsory drug test for all applicants participating in its current recruitment exercise.

Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi announced the policy during the closing session of the CGC’s 2025 Conference in Abuja, explaining that the measure aims to stop individuals battling substance abuse from entering the Service.

According to him, the directive takes immediate effect for new recruits, while existing officers will also undergo screening as the organisation moves toward becoming “a fully drug-free institution.”

“There will be no exceptions. Every prospective officer must be tested so the Service does not end up spending resources on rehabilitation,” he said.

Adeniyi added that the initiative is intended to protect the Service from enrolling individuals whose substance-use tendencies could impair judgement, undermine security duties, or affect operational standards.