The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday, February 5th, announced plans to begin mandatory drug tests for all serving officers across its commands nationwide.
The assistant comptroller-general of customs, Mohammed Babandede, disclosed this during a familiarization visit to the Apapa area command in Lagos.
Babandede said the initiative would be implemented across all commands as part of efforts to strengthen operational integrity, enhance security responsibilities, and promote effective service delivery.
According to him, the responsibilities of the NCS span revenue generation, national security, public safety, and trade facilitation, stressing that effective enforcement remains critical to creating a secure environment for legitimate trade to flourish.
Babandede commended the Apapa area command for its strong performance in revenue collection, noting that the command exceeded its annual target in 2025.
He also praised its sustained anti-smuggling operations, particularly the interception of illicit drugs such as cocaine and tramadol, describing the seizures as significant contributions to public health and national security.
He urged senior officers to prioritize the welfare of their subordinates and transfer vital institutional knowledge to younger recruits to enhance productivity.
Babandede also encouraged officers to prioritize their health and maintain high ethical standards that promote integrity, reputational management, mentorship, and capacity building within the service.
He highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration, urging officers to deepen cooperation with sister security agencies and strengthen the deployment of trade facilitation tools that have improved the service’s operational rating.
The customs area controller of the Apapa area command, Emmanuel Oshoba, expressed appreciation for the timely visit.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining excellence in revenue generation, enforcement, trade facilitation, and inter-agency co-operation.
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