By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has requested the assistance of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct drug integrity tests on all prospective police recruits, in a bid to safeguard the integrity of the recruitment process and bolster national security.
This move was disclosed on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the PSC Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, to the NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Argungu emphasized the dangers of admitting individuals battling drug addiction into the police force, warning that such recruits could become a threat to national security if allowed to handle weapons.
“We follow due process in everything we do, especially recruitment. If unfit individuals infiltrate the system from the start, the consequences could be dire,” he said. “We cannot entrust weapons to those battling drug dependency.”
He also announced plans to decentralize the screening process and said the NDLEA’s widespread presence makes it a strategic partner in identifying unqualified applicants.
Marwa, in response, praised the PSC’s initiative and pledged full support, adding that drug abuse is a major contributor to insecurity in Nigeria.
“We are glad to partner with you on this important initiative. Our commands nationwide are well equipped with advanced drug testing kits capable of detecting even the most sophisticated attempts to tamper with results,” he said.
The NDLEA chief assured the PSC of the agency’s commitment to deploying personnel and resources across the country to ensure that only drug-free, qualified candidates make it into the police.
“This is a timely and crucial step toward national security. The NDLEA stands fully behind this effort,” Marwa stated.
