The Nigeria Customs Service has explained why some candidates whose names appeared on its recruitment shortlist are yet to receive invitations for the basic training programme, stressing that being shortlisted does not amount to final employment.
The clarification followed complaints from applicants who said they had completed the Computer-Based Test, physical examination and other stages of the recruitment process, only to be left uncertain after some training invitations were reportedly issued.
The Customs spokesman, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, explained that the screening process was still ongoing and that candidates must meet all eligibility requirements before being admitted to the training college.
According to him, the publication of a candidate’s name does not guarantee appointment, as applicants could still be disqualified over issues relating to age, academic qualifications, medical fitness, drug use or falsification of documents.
Maiwada said the screening was designed to identify candidates who met the service’s requirements and eliminate those who failed any of the stipulated conditions before public resources were committed to their training.
He added that even candidates admitted into the training college would not automatically become Customs officers, noting that they must successfully complete the programme, pass examinations and meet the required standards in character, learning and physical fitness.
The spokesman said the service also conducts regular drug tests on serving officers, making drug screening an important part of the recruitment process.
He stressed that candidates who failed the requirements could not be taken through training merely because their names had appeared on the published list.
The 2024/2025 recruitment exercise began in December 2024, with 3,927 vacancies advertised for the Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres.
Out of 573,680 applications received, 3,852 candidates were eventually selected for further stages of the process.
The selected applicants comprised 1,275 Superintendents, 367 Inspectors and 2,210 Customs Assistants.
Those who successfully scale the remaining screening and verification stages are expected to proceed to basic training scheduled to commence on October 9, 2026, at the Customs Training College.
