The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released the final list of 3,852 successful candidates from the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, which attracted 573,680 applications nationwide. The announcement was made by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during a press briefing at the NCS headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Breakdown of Successful Candidates by Cadre
The successful candidates were distributed across three entry cadres: the Superintendent Cadre with 1,275 candidates, the Inspectorate Cadre with 367 candidates, and the Customs Assistant Cadre with 2,210 candidates. This distribution reflects the Service's efforts to fill vacancies across different operational levels.
The recruitment process, which began in December 2024, took approximately 20 months to complete due to the high volume of applications and rigorous screening procedures. Adeniyi apologised for the prolonged process, describing it as one of the most demanding recruitment exercises ever conducted by the Service.
Extremely Competitive Selection Process
The competition was intense, with a success rate of just 0.67 per cent, meaning roughly one out of every 148 applicants secured a position. The Superintendent Cadre attracted 276,995 applications for 1,275 vacancies, translating to one successful candidate per 217 applicants. The Inspectorate Cadre saw the fiercest competition, with 128,604 applications for only 367 positions, equivalent to one successful applicant per 350 candidates. The Customs Assistant Cadre received 168,081 applications, with 2,210 selected, representing one per 76 applicants.
According to Adeniyi, every application underwent thorough screening, computer-based testing, and verification against Nigeria's national identity database to ensure transparency and credibility.
Federal Character Compliance and Demographics
The recruitment complied fully with the Federal Character principle, ensuring representation for all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Each state received 105 slots across the three cadres, while the FCT was allocated 72 positions. Adeniyi revealed that 839 women, representing 21.8 per cent of successful candidates, secured appointments, slightly exceeding their share of total applications.
The median age of successful candidates is 26 years, reflecting the Service's commitment to building a younger workforce capable of driving its transition to technology-driven customs administration.
Warning Against Recruitment Fraud
The Customs boss warned applicants to ignore fraudsters demanding money in exchange for employment. He stressed that recruitment into the Nigeria Customs Service is completely free and urged anyone approached for payment to report such individuals to the Service and security agencies.
Shift to Annual Recruitment
In a major policy shift, Adeniyi announced that the NCS has officially adopted a yearly recruitment cycle. Under the new arrangement, recruitment will no longer occur sporadically but will become a predictable annual exercise. The 2026 recruitment exercise is expected to commence later this year, with the Service aiming to complete future processes within a single calendar year using established digital screening and verification systems.
This move will enable Customs to replace retiring officers more efficiently while giving qualified Nigerians a regular opportunity to compete for available positions each year.
Previous Warning on Fake Recruitment Messages
Legit.ng earlier reported that the NCS issued a warning regarding a fake recruitment update circulating on social media. The Service urged the public to stay vigilant and rely solely on official channels to avoid falling victim to fraudulent job offers. This warning serves as a crucial reminder of the deception lurking online, preying on the hopes of job seekers.
