NDLEA Warns Paramilitary Recruits Against Paying Fake N7,500 Drug Test Fee

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has cautioned newly recruited personnel into four paramilitary agencies against paying a purported N7,500 fee for their mandatory Drug Integrity Test.

The agency said the Ministry of Interior had already paid the full cost of the exercise, making any additional charge to candidates illegitimate.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said no candidate or participant should pay NDLEA officials, accredited testing centres or third parties for the screening.

The exercise covers fresh recruits into the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Fire Service (FFS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Babafemi said the ministry had made a bulk payment to cover the drug screening of all new intakes.

He therefore urged the participating services and shortlisted candidates to reject any demand for payment connected with the exercise.

The agency said it had concluded operational arrangements for the screening across the four paramilitary organisations.

It directed candidates to access the official NDLEA Drug Integrity Test portal through designated links on their respective recruitment platforms.

According to Babafemi, the integrated system allows candidates to access the portal, submit their biodata and complete documentation before proceeding to sample collection.

He stressed that candidates would complete the entire process without paying any money out of pocket.

The NDLEA also commended the Ministry of Interior for its collaboration, pledging to ensure a transparent, credible and efficient screening exercise.