The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has cautioned candidates shortlisted for recruitment into four paramilitary organisations against making payments for the compulsory Drug Integrity Test, stating that the Ministry of Interior has already covered the cost of the exercise.
The warning follows reports that some applicants had paid N7,500 through the NDLEA’s drug testing portal, despite previous assurances from the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board that the screening would be conducted at no cost to candidates.
The agencies involved in the recruitment exercise are the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
In a statement released on Friday, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that all necessary arrangements had been completed for the mandatory drug tests, which form part of the recruitment requirements.
“The agency wishes to emphasise that no payment is required from any candidate or personnel presenting for the Drug Integrity Test, as the Ministry of Interior has already made bulk payment to cover the testing of its new intakes,” the statement read.
The agency consequently warned candidates and participating personnel against making payments to its officials, testing centres or through any other channel for the exercise.
It advised applicants to access the NDLEA Drug Integrity Test portal through designated links or access points to be provided on their respective institutional recruitment portals.
“This arrangement will enable candidates to access the NDLEA DIT platform, complete the necessary registration and documentation and proceed with the testing process without making additional payments,” it said.
The warning comes after the CDCFIB announced that its recruitment portal would open on October 28 for shortlisted candidates from the first batch of 30,000 paramilitary personnel to check their status and undertake the mandatory drug tests.
The Board Secretary, Maj. Gen. Abdulmalik Jibrin (retd.), had said the portal would remain open until November 13, urging candidates who passed the oral interview to log in, confirm their status and obtain the code required for the test.
Jibrin explained that the candidates would undergo the tests at designated NDLEA offices in their respective states before proceeding to Abuja to collect their appointment letters.
