Subscribe: Gist E-Paper
The Federal Government has announced that candidates in the ongoing paramilitary recruitment exercise will undergo compulsory drug tests free of charge before collecting their appointment letters.
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) said its recruitment portal would open from October 28 to November 13, 2026, for candidates who had reached the oral interview stage to check their status and obtain codes for the screening.
The board’s Secretary, retired Maj.-Gen. Abdulmalik Jubril, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists after the board’s meeting in Abuja.
Jubril said the drug tests would be conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in accordance with the Federal Government’s directive on screening prospective employees for illegal drug use.
He stressed that candidates would not be required to pay for the tests, as the government would bear the cost.
“Candidates are not to pay anything. They are only to report to the NDLEA office, submit their samples and receive their results,” he said.
The secretary warned candidates against paying anyone for the screening, urging those asked to make payments to report the incident to the nearest security agency.
He explained that candidates would use the codes generated through the recruitment portal to proceed to designated NDLEA offices for the mandatory tests.
According to him, successful candidates must present certificates confirming that they are free from illegal drug use before collecting their appointment letters in Abuja.
Jubril said the submission of the drug screening certificate would form part of the documentation required for the issuance of appointment letters.
He added that the recruitment exercise was part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to recruit 120,000 personnel into the paramilitary services over four years.
The current exercise, he said, covers the first batch of 30,000 personnel under the presidential recruitment plan.
