CUSTOMS RECRUITMENT: THOUSANDS COMPLETE FINAL SCREENING AS NCS TIGHTENS VERIFICATION
For thousands of Nigerians hoping to secure a place in the Nigeria Customs Service, the final stage of the 2025 recruitment exercise has brought weeks of waiting, travelling and physical assessments to a close.
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has concluded the final phase of the recruitment exercise, with shortlisted candidates undergoing documentation, physical fitness assessments and medical screening at the Training and Doctrine Command, TRADOC, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The two-week exercise, which began on September 7, 2026, ended on Saturday, September 19, with candidates drawn from the Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, ASCII, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres.
The screening was conducted in batches to reduce congestion and make the process more orderly for applicants who travelled from different parts of the country.
For many of the candidates, the exercise represented more than a recruitment process. It was an opportunity to pursue a career in a service whose responsibilities include border protection, revenue collection and national security.
Speaking on the outcome of the exercise, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Frank Onyeka, said measures had been introduced to address shortcomings identified during the earlier phase of the screening.
According to him, the measures were designed to reduce congestion, improve efficiency and provide candidates with a smoother screening experience.
“We have put measures in place to reduce congestion and ensure a smoother process this week. The gaps identified last week have been addressed, and we do not expect them to recur this week,” Onyeka said.
He also stressed the need for discipline and responsibility among candidates throughout the recruitment process.
Deputy Comptroller of Customs and member of the coordinating team, Adamu Musa, said the exercise had recorded significant improvements, with close to 3,000 candidates screened without any reported casualty.
Musa attributed the improvement partly to the introduction of personalised screening forms containing candidates’ records across the different stages of the assessment.
He explained that the system allows officials to verify candidates’ information against records already captured, reducing opportunities for alterations and making the screening process easier to track.
According to him, the forms contain candidates’ names and details covering sports, medical examinations, documentation and other requirements.
Musa said the recruitment exercise also underscored the importance of continuously developing the manpower of the Customs Service to meet its expanding responsibilities in border protection, national security and other areas of national service.
He explained that candidates would be assessed against criteria established by the Service, including age, physical fitness and drug screening.
Candidates who test positive for hard drugs, exceed the stipulated age limit or have physical conditions considered incompatible with the demands of the job may be disqualified, subject to the final decision of the Service’s management.
Musa also urged applicants and members of the public to be cautious of fraudulent recruitment messages, advising them to verify information through the official Nigeria Customs Service website and its verified social media platforms.
With the final screening now completed, successful candidates will await further communication from the Service as the recruitment process moves towards its next stage.
