Applicants Protest ₦7,500 Drug Test Fee in Recruitment

Applicants participating in the paramilitary recruitment exercise have protested the imposition of a ₦7,500 fee for a mandatory drug test, despite assurances from the federal government that the process would be free. Major General Abdulmalik Jibril (retd.), Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), had previously stated during a briefing in Abuja that the federal government would cover the costs of the drug screening conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Jibril emphasized that candidates would not incur any charges and instructed them to report any requests for payment to security agencies. However, applicants are now reporting that they are being asked to pay the ₦7,500 fee, which is listed on the NDLEA's screening portal.

Abdallah Muhammad, an applicant from Kano State, expressed disappointment and urged the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubummi Tunji-Ojo, to intervene. The situation has raised concerns among candidates who have been waiting for months for the recruitment process to conclude.