Civil Defence, Immigration board to reopen recruitment portal October 28

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) will reopen its recruitment portal from October 28 to November 13, 2026, to allow candidates who have progressed to the oral interview stage to confirm their recruitment status and obtain codes for mandatory drug screening.

The Board said the exercise continues the ongoing recruitment process and not a fresh recruitment exercise, warning eligible candidates to follow the official procedures and avoid individuals demanding money to facilitate their screening or appointments.

Abdulmalik Jibril, Secretary to the Board, disclosed this during its second meeting for the year, explaining that the reopening would allow candidates who had completed the medical examination, oral interview and other required stages to access information on their recruitment status and obtain the necessary codes for drug testing.

According to Jibril, candidates who have reached the oral interview stage are expected to log on to the official CDCFIB recruitment portal within the stipulated period to confirm their status and obtain the codes required to undergo the mandatory screening.

He explained that the drug test forms part of the final stages of the recruitment exercise, with successful candidates required to complete the screening before collecting their appointment letters.

The exercise is part of the Federal Government’s plan to recruit 30,000 personnel into the country’s four paramilitary services as the first phase of a target to recruit 120,000 personnel.

The four agencies recruiting are the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Federal Fire Service (FFS).

Jibril said candidates who qualify for the drug screening must visit the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) office in their respective states to undergo the test after obtaining their screening codes through the recruitment portal.

He emphasised that the screening would be conducted free of charge, as the Federal Government would bear the cost of the exercise.

Under the arrangement, eligible candidates are expected to log on to the recruitment portal during the designated period, obtain their screening codes, report to the appropriate NDLEA offices and provide the required samples for testing.

The Board secretary warned that no candidate should be asked to pay for the drug test, stressing that the screening is a government-funded requirement and not an opportunity for individuals to demand payments from applicants.

He advised candidates who encounter demands for money during the process to report such incidents to the nearest security agency.

Jibril further disclosed that the drug test results would be made available immediately, enabling candidates who satisfy the screening requirements to proceed with the remaining stages of the recruitment process.

He said candidates who complete the drug screening would travel to Abuja to collect their appointment letters, subject to meeting all other recruitment requirements.

The Board secretary stressed that evidence confirming candidates are free from illegal drug use would be a mandatory condition for the appointment letters.

He said the requirement was in line with the Federal Government’s directive that prospective employees must provide evidence that they are free from illegal drug use before their appointments can be finalised.

Candidates were also advised to follow the screening procedures and ensure they obtain their codes through the official portal before visiting the designated NDLEA offices.

The Board reiterated that applicants should not engage intermediaries or pay touts claiming to facilitate recruitment, drug testing or the collection of appointment letters.