In Nigeria, where citizens already pray before stepping out to “avoid police wahala,” the Police Service Commission (PSC) has taken a bold step to address a growing concern: drug abuse among men and women in police uniform.
Last Tuesday, the PSC declared its readiness to flush out officers who may be patrolling our streets with more than just guns—they may be high on something stronger than ego.
According to a statement by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations at the Commission, PSC Chairman DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd) led a delegation to the headquarters of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Abuja. The purpose? To seal a partnership that could change the face—and perhaps the scent—of law enforcement in Nigeria.
“We want you to help us fish out the drug addicts who obviously should not be allowed to get into and corrupt the system,” DIG Argungu told his host, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, Chairman of the NDLEA.
Argungu didn’t mince words. He described the idea of arming drug addicts as not just dangerous, but disastrous. “We want to get it right and get the Police to work,” he said—echoing a sentiment that many Nigerians would chant with both hands raised.
For years, complaints have swirled about rogue officers intimidating citizens, mishandling weapons, or simply behaving in ways that made the average motorist wonder: “Is this one okay?” The PSC believes part of the answer lies in weeding out officers with drug problems—both those trying to join and those already in uniform.
The partnership isn’t entirely new. The NDLEA had previously helped screen cadets at the Nigeria Police Academy in Wudil, Kano—a move credited with drastically reducing drug-related cases among recruits. Now, the PSC wants to take it nationwide.
“From recruitment to active duty, we need a Police Force that is clean—mentally, emotionally, and chemically,” Argungu added.
Responding warmly, NDLEA boss Buba Marwa pledged his agency’s full support. But he also added a note of realism: “It’s not just about testing; it’s about intelligence—sharing it, using it, and training officers to recognise early signs.”
In other words, beyond urine tests and pep talks, the PSC and NDLEA are looking at a long-term cultural shift in the Force.
For too long, Nigerians have had to guess whether the officer at the checkpoint is high on power—or something stronger. But now, there’s hope that the system might actually clean itself from the inside. A sober Police Force? That would be revolutionary.
As one Abuja-based lawyer put it: “This initiative is long overdue. We can’t have officers who should be in rehab holding rifles.”
If the plan succeeds, we may one day drive past a checkpoint without suspicion, fear, or a silent prayer.
And who knows? The next time a police officer says, “Oga, anything for the boys?”—you might just believe he’s genuinely doing his job… not looking for his next fix.
