PSC Vows Zero Tolerance: Drug Users Barred from Nigeria Police Force Recruitment

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has issued a stern warning that individuals who use drugs will not be recruited into the Nigeria Police Force, reaffirming its commitment to upholding professionalism and integrity within the security agency.

The commission announced that all prospective recruits for the ongoing exercise to enlist 50,000 police constables will undergo rigorous screening procedures, including comprehensive drug tests, to ensure only qualified and medically fit candidates join the force.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Chairman of the PSC Standing Committee on Police Matters, DIG Taiwo Lakanu (Rtd), disclosed that the commission has partnered with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct detailed drug integrity tests on all applicants.

"Let me state this without ambiguity: drug users and persons of questionable character will not find their way into the Nigeria Police Force," Lakanu declared. "Our partnership with the NDLEA ensures that only candidates of sound health, good character, and proven integrity will be admitted."

He explained that successful candidates will subsequently be posted to designated Police Colleges for training before deployment to various commands and formations for active service across the country.

Lakanu emphasised that the credibility of the Nigeria Police Force begins at the recruitment stage, noting that a professional and world-class security institution cannot be built on compromised entry standards. He stated that the commission has adopted a painstaking, zero-tolerance approach to malpractice throughout the recruitment process.

"Building a professional police force starts with ensuring we recruit the right people from the very beginning," he said. "We cannot expect excellence in operations if we allow compromised individuals into the system at the entry point."

To further promote transparency and public confidence, the PSC has introduced a whistle-blowing mechanism for the recruitment exercise. This policy enables Nigerians to report suspected irregularities, with assurances that all reports will be treated confidentially and investigated thoroughly.

Lakanu noted that the ongoing recruitment exercise represents the most inclusive in the commission's history, with gender considerations prioritised and stakeholder participation significantly broadened.

He disclosed that multiple agencies and organisations have been involved in the process to ensure fairness and equitable representation across the country. These include the Federal Character Commission, Guidance and Counselling Departments of various state governments, the Police Community Relations Committee, civil society organisations, and the NDLEA.

The retired DIG stressed that building the Nigeria Police Force that meets collective national aspiration is a responsibility shared by all citizens, requiring cooperation from the public, the media, and stakeholders across the security sector.

He reaffirmed the commission's commitment to a recruitment process that is fair, transparent, and merit-based, aimed at delivering the professional police force that Nigeria deserves.

The recruitment exercise comes as part of broader efforts to strengthen the nation's security architecture and enhance police capacity to tackle rising criminality across the country.