The Ministry of Interior has officially denied claims that the ongoing recruitment exercise for paramilitary agencies under its supervision has been postponed to 2027, labeling the reports as entirely false.
In a statement released on Thursday, Permanent Secretary Dr. Magdalene Ajani warned the public against accepting misinformation about the recruitment process, emphasizing that the exercise remains active and ongoing.
Fake Document Circulates on Social Media
The controversy stems from a document titled "CDCFIB Recruitment Update," dated August 11, 2026, which has been circulating on social media and messaging platforms. The release, falsely attributed to Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, alleged that the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) recruitment had been deferred until after the 2027 general elections due to funding constraints.
The Ministry clarified that the document did not originate from the Ministry, the Minister's office, or the CDCFIB itself. It described the release as fake in its entirety, reiterating that the recruitment process is still in progress.
Official Channels for Verified Information
The Ministry advised all applicants and the general public to completely disregard the circulating document. It directed them to rely solely on updates published through the Ministry's official channels and the CDCFIB's verified platforms, including the official recruitment portal at cdcfib.gov.ng.
This denial follows a previous development where Minister Tunji-Ojo addressed technical glitches on the CDCFIB recruitment portal. In a statement on Friday, October 31, the minister ordered the immediate resolution of all technical hitches that were preventing applicants from verifying their application status.
The Ministry's firm stance aims to prevent confusion among thousands of applicants who are awaiting updates on their recruitment status. The CDCFIB recruitment is a significant exercise that determines the intake of personnel into key security and emergency response agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Applicants are urged to stay vigilant and avoid falling prey to false information that could derail their application process. The Ministry has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a transparent and smooth recruitment exercise, with all official announcements being made through verified channels only.
