The Federal Government has rolled out a far reaching new policy mandating compulsory drug tests for all prospective entrants into the Nigerian public service, in what is a hardline stance against substance abuse within government institutions.
The directive, issued to permanent secretaries and heads of extra-ministerial departments and parastatals, was disclosed in a statement released on Monday by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
According to the statement, the policy is part of intensified efforts by the government to confront the rising tide of illicit drug use and its damaging effects on national development and internal security.
Imohiosen said the move was informed by deep concern over the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse, especially among young Nigerians, warning that the trend poses grave risks to public health, socio-economic progress, workplace efficiency, and national security.
He described the situation as a “disturbing trend” with far-reaching consequences for the country.
Under the new directive, ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are required to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the drug tests, strictly in line with approved standards and procedures.
The decision comes on the heels of a similar policy recently introduced by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, who ordered compulsory drug testing for both new recruits and serving officers of the Service.
Adeniyi said the policy was designed to prevent the entry of individuals with substance-abuse tendencies that could undermine judgement, compromise security responsibilities, or weaken operational integrity.
He added that the initiative would also cover serving officers as the NCS moves toward building “a fully drug-free institution”.
While mandatory drug testing is not a universal requirement for public service employment worldwide, comparable practices exist in countries such as the United States and parts of Europe, where pre-employment drug tests are common for safety-sensitive roles, including transportation and public safety positions.
