Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, addressing customs officers during the closing session of the CGC’s 2025 Conference in Abuja.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has concluded arrangements to subject all new recruits and serving officers to a mandatory drug test as part of the ongoing recruitment exercise.
Adeniyi disclosed this during the closing session of the CGC’s 2025 Conference in Abuja.
According to him, 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.
He added that the new directive was 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.”
Adeniyi disclosed that the mandatory drug test would be carried out on all officers and men across all Zones, Commands and at the Headquarters.
He noted that the Service would no longer tolerate a situation where personnel make sensitive decisions while under the influence of drugs.
The CGC explained that the decision was informed by experiences where erratic behaviours or poor decision-making in some Commands were later linked to substance misuse.
He said: “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’s resources rehabilitating personnel.”
The Customs boss warned that the era of overlooking early signs of substance abuse in the ranks was over.
He stressed that officers assigned to revenue collection, enforcement and border security must possess sound judgment at all times.
Adeniyi also reminded officers to prioritise their personal health and undergo regular medical checks.
He stated that physical and mental fitness remained essential to effective service delivery.
