More than 6,000 applicants have been disqualified from the ongoing security services recruitment exercise after failing newly introduced drug and mental health screenings, the Ministry of the Interior has revealed.
Out of more than 100,000 candidates who underwent medical examinations, over 4,000 applicants failed the drug tests, while approximately 2,000 others were disqualified on mental health grounds.
The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, disclosed the figures during an interview on Pan African TV on Saturday, 23rd May 2026.
Expanded Screening Protocols
According to the Minister, the medical screening process was deliberately expanded this year to encompass not only standard physical and laboratory examinations, but also additional tests.
The decision to include rigorous psychiatric and substance checks stems from growing concerns over the well-being and conduct of personnel within the security agencies.
“We have over 100,000 people who went through the medicals. Because of the large numbers, and because of what we have observed within the services, we introduced additional checks including mental health assessments and drug tests,” he explained.
Muntaka highlighted: “Interestingly, over 4,000 people failed the drug test, and we have over 2,000 who also failed due to mental health conditions.”
Ensuring Institutional Fitness
The Minister emphasised that the high failure rate underscores the necessity of a more stringent vetting process.
Moving forward, the ministry intends to maintain these rigorous standards to guarantee that only the most fit, stable, and suitable candidates are enlisted to safeguard public safety.