The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has cautioned shortlisted applicants for recruitment into four paramilitary agencies against paying for mandatory drug integrity tests, insisting that the exercise is free.
The agency said the Ministry of Interior had already made bulk payments to cover the cost of testing all newly recruited personnel.
The warning follows reports that some applicants had paid N7,500 through the NDLEA drug testing portal despite assurances that the exercise would not attract any charges.
In a statement on Friday, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said preparations had been completed for the mandatory tests as part of the ongoing recruitment exercise.
He emphasised that neither applicants nor personnel participating in the exercise were expected to pay money to the agency or its designated testing centres.
“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 said.
The agency urged applicants to disregard any demand for payment, warning them against transferring money to its officials, testing centres or through other channels.
It advised candidates to access the drug testing platform through designated links or access points that would be provided on the recruitment portals of their respective agencies.
“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 added.
The affected agencies are the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The warning comes after the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board announced the reopening of its recruitment portal on October 28 for shortlisted candidates in the first batch of 30,000 recruits.
The board’s Secretary, Major General Abdulmalik Jibrin (retd.), said the portal would remain accessible until November 13.
He urged candidates who successfully completed the oral interview to check their recruitment status and obtain the required code for the drug test.
Jibrin explained that the applicants would undergo screening at designated NDLEA offices in their respective states before travelling to Abuja to collect their appointment letters.
