PSC Seeks NDLEA Support To Conduct Drug Test For New Police Recruits

Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd) has sought the support of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting drug integrity test for new police recruits.

DIG Argungu who made the request on Tuesday when he visited the NDLEA’s Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), said this was to ensure that those with the right frame of mind eventually make it out of police training colleges across the country.

Argungu made the request when he led a delegation of the PSC management on a courtesy visit to Marwa at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja.

While commending the leadership of NDLEA for the support so far received, the PSC boss said his visit was to seek further assistance.

According to him, “I feel there is a need to come and plead, to seek for the assistance and cooperation of this organisation, because we follow process and procedures in anything we do so that we can produce the best results.

“If the process and procedures were followed wrongly, the end result or product is going to be bad. So, recruitment in anywhere, in any sector, if bad eggs are in the process, the product or the people you are training is not going to be good. So, we feel it’s very, very important.”

He disclosed that the PSC will decentralise the screening exercise to different states of the federation. “And because there is NDLEA in every state of the country, we want them to assist us in screening those who are already on drugs in whatever form.”

He stressed that the Commission “can’t churn out and put arms in the hands of people already dependent on illicit drugs. That is dangerous. This is the main reason why we are here, and we are thanking you for your cooperation.”

Speaking, General Marwa noted that the drug scourge as a challenge affecting every part of national life and propelling security challenges.

He said this explains the need for all stakeholders to embrace a whole of government and society approach to curbing the menace.

He said, “On your request for drug integrity test for new police recruits, we are delighted about this and we’re happy to collaborate with you on this.

“We are prepared across all our commands all over the country with high quality test kits that will give you the right results.

“This is important because candidates play all manner of tricks with urine samples, but our kits are produced to detect all of those. In all, you can rest assured we’ll be glad to work with you and support you on this,” Marwa assured.