By Danjuma Amodu
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) will reopen its recruitment portal from October 28 to November 13, 2026, to enable eligible candidates to check their recruitment status and obtain codes for mandatory drug screening, according to information attributed to the Board’s Secretary, Maj. Gen. A.M. Jibril (rtd.). Jibril reportedly disclosed the development during the Board’s second meeting for the year, explaining that the exercise is part of the final stages of the ongoing recruitment into Nigeria’s four paramilitary services – the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and Federal Fire Service (FFS).
The Board clarified that the reopening is not a fresh recruitment exercise and is strictly for candidates who have progressed through the required stages, including computer-based test, shortlisting, physical screening, document verification, medical assessment and oral interview. Applicants who did not participate in the ongoing process should not interpret the announcement as an opportunity to submit new applications. Eligible candidates are expected to log in to the official CDCFIB recruitment portal at http://recruitment.cdcfib.gov.ng within the 17-day window to determine their status and obtain instructions for the next stage. The Board advised candidates to follow only the information displayed on their individual recruitment profiles and to disregard messages circulated by unofficial sources, noting that the recruitment process has passed through several stages and the drug test forms part of the final checks before appointments are concluded.
Under the announced arrangement, candidates who qualify for the drug test will be required to visit designated National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) offices in their respective states with the screening codes generated from the portal. The procedure is intended to ensure that eligible candidates complete the screening through the prescribed channel and that their results can be linked to their recruitment records. Jibril reportedly said the drug test will be free of charge, with the Federal Government bearing the cost, and that results will be made available immediately to enable qualified candidates to proceed without unnecessary delays. The drug-free certificate is expected to serve as one of the mandatory conditions for issuance of appointment letters, in line with the Federal Government’s requirement that prospective employees provide evidence of being free from illegal drug use.
The announcement is particularly important for applicants who have spent months participating in the different stages of the exercise. The Board warned that no candidate should be asked to pay for the mandatory drug test and advised anyone confronted with such demand to report to the nearest security agency. It also cautioned applicants to be wary of individuals who claim to have special access to the Board, NDLEA officials or recruitment officers and promise to secure appointment letters in exchange for money, stressing that recruitment-related fraud often targets job seekers through false claims of guaranteed employment, requests for processing fees and offers to manipulate shortlisting. Candidates were therefore advised not to disclose sensitive personal information to unauthorised persons or make payments to intermediaries who claim they can influence the outcome. The CDCFIB has previously emphasised that its recruitment process is free and that the official portal remains the primary channel for verified updates.
The exercise forms part of the Federal Government’s reported plan to enlist 30,000 personnel into the four paramilitary services in the first phase of a broader target of recruiting 120,000 young Nigerians. The agencies operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior and perform complementary responsibilities relating to internal security, border management, correctional administration, fire prevention and emergency response. Additional personnel are expected to strengthen the agencies’ manpower capacity and support their operational responsibilities, depending on quality of training, deployment, equipment and resources available to the services. For applicants, the final stages will determine who proceeds from screening to formal appointment.
Candidates who successfully complete the mandatory drug screening will still be required to satisfy all other conditions governing their recruitment before appointments are finalised. According to the information attributed to the Board Secretary, successful candidates will proceed to Abuja to collect their appointment letters after completing the required checks. Candidates were therefore advised to avoid assuming that participation in the drug test automatically guarantees employment, as final appointment remains subject to the outcome of the screening and compliance with all requirements. The Board urged applicants who have reached the oral interview stage to monitor the portal during the announced period, prepare their application details and verify any announcement against official CDCFIB communication before taking action, particularly where money, personal information or travel arrangements are involved.
