The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has released a list of countries that Nigerians will need drug test certificates as part of mandatory visa clearance requirements.

The list released on Wednesday included Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Brazil, Pakistan, the Philippines and Russia.

A statement by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said, “The attention of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has been drawn to some misinformation and misconceptions about a 24-year-old visa clearance policy, which requires Nigerians travelling to some countries to meet certain requirements before getting clearance from the NDLEA.”

Mr Babafemi maintained that the agency shared the list to dispel concerns that it was introducing a new levy on travellers and that the guideline for the listed countries had been in place for 24 years.

He added that the policy was made at the request of the “source countries,” not by the federal government. According to him, the policy is part of global efforts to curb drug abuse and trafficking.

He noted that the visa clearance requirements making the rounds on social media are part of a three-page document, which provides other detailed information on the policy.