Any candidate that has been shortlisted has a form designed especially for him, unlike in the past where you come, they issue you a form, and then some people along the way go and even change some of the records
By Moses Okorie
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has completed the final stage of its 2025 recruitment exercise, with thousands of shortlisted candidates undergoing documentation, physical fitness and medical screening in Abuja.
The NCS Spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to Maiwada, the two-week exercise was conducted at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Gwagwalada, and involved candidates shortlisted for the Assistant Superintendent of Customs II (ASCII), Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres.
He said the candidates were screened in batches to ensure an orderly process and prevent overcrowding at the centre.
The Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Frank Onyeka, said the service introduced additional measures to address challenges encountered during the first phase of the exercise.
Onyeka explained that the measures were aimed at reducing congestion and improving the overall efficiency of the recruitment process.
He also urged candidates to maintain discipline and demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility throughout the exercise.
A member of the coordinating team and Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Adamu Musa, said the process had improved significantly, with nearly 3,000 candidates screened without any casualty.
Musa attributed the improvement to the use of personalised screening forms containing the records of individual candidates across the various stages of assessment.
He said the forms contained candidates’ names and relevant details for sports, medical examinations, documentation and other requirements.
“Any candidate that has been shortlisted has a form designed especially for him, unlike in the past where you come, they issue you a form, and then some people along the way go and even change some of the records.
“These forms come with the candidates’ records, including their names and details for sports, medical, documentation and the checklist of required items.
“So, once the candidate comes, you just verify what you already have from the system,” he said.
Musa stressed the importance of continuous manpower development, noting that the expanding responsibilities of the Customs Service required a well-trained and capable workforce.
He said the service’s responsibilities in border protection, national security and other areas made regular investment in personnel development necessary.
The deputy comptroller added that candidates were assessed against established criteria, including age, physical fitness and drug screening.
He said candidates who tested positive for hard drugs, exceeded the prescribed age limit or had physical conditions that could affect their ability to perform their duties might be disqualified, subject to the final decision of the NCS management.
Musa further advised applicants and members of the public to obtain recruitment information only through the Customs Service’s official website and verified social media platforms.
He warned against relying on unverified messages and fraudulent recruitment announcements.
The NCS had earlier released the final list of 3,852 successful candidates for the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise on Aug. 4, following its announcement of an annual recruitment cycle.
The recruitment exercise attracted 573,680 applications for the available positions.
The successful candidates comprised 1,275 persons for the Superintendent Cadre, 367 for the Inspectorate Cadre and 2,210 for the Customs Assistant Cadre.