The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has warned applicants shortlisted for recruitment into four paramilitary agencies against paying for the mandatory Drug Integrity Test, saying the exercise has already been paid for by the Ministry of Interior.

The warning comes amid reports that some applicants have paid N7,500 through the NDLEA drug testing portal despite assurances by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board that the exercise is free.

The affected agencies are the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

In a statement on Friday, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said arrangements had been concluded for the conduct of the mandatory tests as part of the recruitment process.

“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.