The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially released the final list of successful candidates for its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, confirming that only 3,852 applicants were selected from a pool of 573,680 applications. This represents a success rate of approximately 0.67%, meaning one slot for every 148 applicants. Comptroller General Adewale Adeniyi announced the results at a press briefing on Tuesday, August 4, as reported by Channels TV.
Breakdown of Selections Across Cadres
The selections are distributed across three cadres: 1,275 successful candidates in the Superintendent Cadre, 367 in the Inspectorate Cadre, and 2,210 in the Customs Assistant Cadre. The Superintendent Cadre received 276,995 applications for 1,275 slots, a ratio of one in 217. The Inspectorate Cadre proved to be the most competitive, with 128,604 applications for just 367 positions, a ratio of one in 350. The Customs Assistant Cadre saw 168,081 applicants competing for 2,210 openings, a ratio of one in 76.
Reasons for the Delay in Publishing the List
Adeniyi acknowledged the delay in releasing the list, attributing it to the high volume of applications, a significant number of retirements among senior staff during the same period, and the rigorous verification process. Each candidate underwent application screening, a computer-based examination, and credential checks against the national identity database. Adeniyi stated, "That is the honest reason this list is issued in August rather than in March." Successful candidates will still need to pass physical and medical assessments before a final review at Board level.
State-by-State Allocation and Gender Representation
The NCS ensured equal representation across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Each state received 35 slots in the Superintendent Cadre, 10 in the Inspectorate Cadre, and 60 in the Customs Assistant Cadre, totaling 105 slots per state. The FCT received 72 places under a separate formula. Geopolitical zone differences reflect only the number of states, with the North West receiving 735 slots, the North Central 702, and the North East, South South, and South West each getting 630, while the South East received 525.
Of the 3,852 selected candidates, 839 are women, representing 21.8% of the intake. This slightly exceeds the 21.2% application rate from women, indicating a slight overrepresentation in success. The median age of selected candidates is 26 years, with nearly three-quarters under the age of 30.
Message to Unsuccessful Applicants and Future Plans
Adeniyi urged the more than 560,000 unsuccessful applicants not to lose hope, stating, "You were not rejected; you were unlucky in a field of extraordinary competition." He announced that the NCS plans to conduct recruitment annually, with the next exercise expected to begin before the end of 2026. He also issued a firm warning against fraud: "Recruitment into the Nigeria Customs Service is free. No candidate has paid, and no candidate should pay, any person or group for a place on this list. Anyone who solicits payment on our behalf is a criminal, and should be reported to the Service and to the security agencies."
How to Check the Final Recruitment List
Candidates are advised to visit the official Nigeria Customs Service website and look for the latest announcement on the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise. They should search the published list for their names. Additionally, successful applicants will be contacted via the email address and phone number used during registration, so monitoring those channels is crucial. The NCS emphasized that only official channels should be trusted for information.
Shift to Annual Recruitment
In a related development, the NCS has announced a major policy shift, moving to annual recruitment exercises instead of irregular intervals. This change aims to create predictable manpower planning, enabling the Service to replace retiring officers promptly and offering young Nigerians regular opportunities to join the organization. The 2024/2025 exercise marks the beginning of this new approach, with the next recruitment expected to commence before the end of 2026.
