The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a new digital platform designed to streamline its Drug Integrity Test and Visa Clearance processes, making them faster, more accessible, and transparent.
The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, unveiled the portal — known as the Drug Integrity Test and Visa E-Administration System (DITViCAS) — on Tuesday in Abuja.
The initiative marks a major milestone in the agency’s ongoing efforts to curb substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
Represented by the agency’s Secretary, Mr. Shadrach Haruna, Marwa described the development as “a paradigm shift where enforcement meets efficiency and commitment merges with cutting-edge technology.”
According to him, the digital platform aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, as it enhances public service delivery while strengthening Nigeria’s global reputation in the fight against drug-related crimes.
“For years, obtaining an NDLEA Visa Clearance Certificate required manual documentation, physical appearances, and lengthy verification cycles. This often led to human interference, delays, and other inefficiencies,” Marwa said.
“With this new online portal, those bottlenecks are now a thing of the past.”
He explained that the system automates all processes related to drug testing and visa clearance, allowing applicants to apply and schedule appointments remotely. It also provides real-time certificate generation, ensuring faster turnaround — within three days or, in some cases, a week.
The NDLEA boss further revealed that the platform enables private medical centres to register as accredited partners for conducting drug integrity tests. This, he said, brings “efficiency, flexibility, and convenience” to the process.
“With the E-Certification and Verification system, we are eliminating certificate falsification and ensuring transparency through supervisory dashboards across our commands, formations, and headquarters,” he added.
Marwa also noted that the service would be extended to students of tertiary institutions as part of the agency’s broader drug demand reduction efforts, while rehabilitation and counselling centres remain available for those who test positive.
Highlighting the platform’s security features, Marwa said it incorporates advanced background check protocols to prevent drug syndicates from exploiting legitimate travel channels.
“All applicants need to do is log on to www.drugandvisa.ndlea.gov.ng, create an account, and apply from anywhere,” he said.
He emphasised that the initiative supports NDLEA’s preventive approach to drug control, describing the Drug Integrity Test as an “early-warning system” that allows for timely intervention before addiction develops.
“This digital portal provides a verified, standardised, and secure process for testing and issuing certificates. It supports healthier communities, safer workplaces, and a more secure national labour force,” Marwa stated.
He reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to leveraging technology to tackle the evolving challenges of drug trafficking and abuse, adding that the digitisation drive is part of a broader strategy to modernise all agency operations.
“With technology as our ally, we are better equipped, stronger, and more resolved than ever before,” Marwa said, urging stakeholders to embrace the new system as a shared responsibility in the collective war against drug abuse.
