Nigeria Customs Service addresses recruitment controversy

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has responded to allegations regarding its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise. National spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada stated that some applicants were removed from the process for allegedly attempting to use “backdoor channels” to secure positions. The agency also noted that 397 applicants were screened out due to issues involving substance abuse, age, physical fitness, and documentation irregularities.

The recruitment process, which saw 3,852 successful candidates selected from 573,680 applicants, has faced scrutiny following claims that some original successful candidates were replaced by individuals who did not participate in the exercise. While Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi has defended the selection process as merit-based and geographically balanced, the Federal Character Commission (FCC) has called for a suspension of the recruitment due to alleged violations.