The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a new digital platform that will make its drug integrity test and visa clearance process seamless, more accessible, and help curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

The portal was unveiled at a press conference to flag off the digitisation of the agency’s Drug Integrity Test and Visa E-Administration System (DITViCAS) yesterday in Abuja.

Speaking at the forum, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), said the symbolic launch signifies “a paradigm shift in the fight against the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.” He said it was a moment where enforcement meets efficiency, and commitment merges with cutting-edge technology.

Represented by the agency’s Secretary, Shadrach Haruna, he said in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the agency has maintained an aggressive, balanced, and uncompromising approach to tackling the scourge of illicit substances, with a focus on two critical fronts: drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction.

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“For years, the process of obtaining an NDLEA visa clearance certificate, required by certain source and transit countries, has been characterised by documentation, physical appearances, and lengthy verification cycles. This manual process was no doubt prone to human interference, delays, and a host of other issues. We are bringing an end to those bottlenecks. The system delivers automation across all processes and operations associated with the administration of the drug integrity test and visa clearance, with interfaces for effective collaboration with partner agencies,” he said.

He added: “It is also important to note that we have made provision on the system for private medical centres to partner with the agency as accredited centres for the drug integrity test. The system brings efficiency, flexibility, and convenience to the process. Following this ceremony, applicants for the drug integrity test and visa clearance can now apply from home and choose any preferred location, booking a date convenient and available for both the applicant and the desk officer of the NDLEA, without having to go and wait the whole day at the NDLEA office.

“With the e-certification and verification system, it also eliminates drug and visa clearance certificate falsifications and establishes the reliability and transparency of the process with supervisory dashboards across our commands, formations, and at the headquarters.”

The extension of the service to students of tertiary institutions and others, he said, is to significantly foster drug demand reduction across the country without any attempt to stigmatise any student or anyone, while rehabilitation and counsellingcentres are open for those who test positive to ensure that no one is left without care.

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The NDLEA boss further explained that the essence of the platform is to integrate sophisticated background check protocols, ensuring that the certificate remains a robust security instrument that safeguards Nigeria’s international reputation and prevents drug syndicates from exploiting legitimate travel channels.

He said: “This new digital portal allows institutions, organisations, and individuals, including parents and prospective couples, to apply for drug integrity tests seamlessly. It provides a verified, standardised, and secure process for testing and issuing certificates.

“It is a non-judgmental pathway designed to support our national drive for Demand Reduction, fostering healthier communities, safer workplaces, and a more secure national labour force. This is the future of our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign: proactive, compassionate, and data-driven.”

Nigerians can now verify the status of imported vehicles and the amount of duty payable independently via a digital platform with their Vehicle Identification Number and a verification fee of N15,000 using any locally or internationally issued debit or credit card.

Previously, Nigerians relied on intermediaries to verify vehicle status and determine the correct duty payable, which caused delay and fraud; however, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS), a new digital platform that streamlines the process.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the platform, which was unveiled in Abuja, allows Nigerians to verify the status of any imported vehicle and determine the corresponding duty payment within minutes.

Adeniyi explained that the new verification system was developed in partnership with the Trade Modernisation Project and indigenous technology firm, Afripoint Consult, to resolve long-standing challenges associated with vehicle clearance and documentation.

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He said for years, verification of imported vehicles relied on fragmented and outdated methods, systems that left room for misinformation, fraud and revenue leakage, costing the country significantly.

Adeniyi explained that the platform would provide a centralised digital system where vehicle records can be traced, verified and confirmed within minutes, while improving the efficiency of Customs enforcement units, the federal operations units, and other relevant arms of the Service.

“With CVMS, we are introducing a simple, seamless, and secure way to verify vehicle duty payment status,” Adeniyi said.

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According to him, the digital platform, which has been in trial mode for about two months, is now fully operational and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

“Nigerians can verify vehicles by entering the Vehicle Identification Number and paying a N15, 000 verification fee using any debit or credit card issued locally or internationally,” he stated.

Adeniyi explained that the system was built to empower citizens, importers and dealers with verifiable data, while helping customs officers eliminate manual bottlenecks, standardise operations across commands and strengthen enforcement capabilities.

He noted that the system also democratises access to verified information, enabling the public to make informed purchase decisions, while it eliminates inconsistencies and provides real-time validated data that improves decision-making for Customs officers.

Living Waters Unlimited Church has called on Church leaders and believers to repent of greed, ambition, hypocrisy, and exploitation, and return to sound biblical doctrine and contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.

Arising from its three-day 2025 National Convention with the theme: “Never Man Spake Like This (Reshaping Destinies and Igniting Generations),” the church in its communique issued at the end of the event in Lagos lamented the spiritual health of the body of Christ in Nigeria. It observed that Nigerian Church that was once renowned for revival fire, missionary zeal, fervent prayer, and societal influence, suddenly declined into decay, false teachings, and corruption.

The church in its communique noted that the Nigerian Church had watered down its messages on repentance, righteousness, and truth with doctrines of convenience, breakthrough without integrity, miracle money without diligence, materialism, motivationalism, and compromise.

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Calling on the body of Christ in Nigeria to rise from being transactional, the church observed that many believers had grown silent in the face of injustice.

Citing as an example, the communique said, “The Church has maintained a troubling silence while fellow Christians have been kidnapped and brutally murdered. Week after week, we gather as though these tragedies were distant or insignificant”.

“A notable example is Leah Sharibu, who was abducted alongside several other young girls and remains in captivity for her steadfast refusal to renounce her Christian faith. This spiritual decline has weakened the Church’s role as the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13 16).

“As a result of the Church’s failure and compromise, darkness has covered the nation (Isaiah 60:2). This darkness manifests in widespread injustice, immorality, corruption, acute poverty, and insecurity.” It urged the Nigerian Church to know that political leaders and citizens alike mirror the compromise they see in the Church and therefore charged them to use the pulpit to preach righteousness and fear of God.

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It added, “the prophetic voice of the Church has been drowned by the noise of personal ambition, prosperity preaching, empire-building, and political entanglement. Ritual killings for money—where young men use their girlfriends or even their mothers for wealth—have become alarmingly common.

“Moral decay, unknown in the early days of Christianity, now spreads unchecked. Many young people are turning again to witchcraft and occult practices—vices once courageously confronted by pioneers of the faith such as Ajayi Crowther, Thomas Birch Freeman, and Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola.”

The communique reminded them that God’s judgment would start from the house of God, unless the Church returns to its prophetic role, Nigeria will continue to descend into moral, spiritual, and social darkness. It called on all believers to live out their faith in holiness, integrity, and love, serving as true ambassadors of Christ in every sphere of life.