Customs CG explains recruitment process, says 3,852 candidates successful

Omeiza Bilal

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the release of the final list of 3,852 successful candidates for the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, concluding a rigorous selection process that commenced in December 2024.

Addressing journalists during a press briefing on Thursday, the Customs Chief offered a formal apology for the delay in releasing the final outcome, explaining that administrative strains and thorough background checks extended the timeline.

“This exercise has taken longer than any of us intended. On behalf of the Service, I offer my sincere apologies to every applicant who has waited, and to the parents and guardians who waited with them,” he said. “The volume alone was extraordinary: the Service received 573,680 applications for 3,852 places. Every one of those applications had to be received, verified, and assessed.”

Highlighting the intense competition, the Comptroller General noted that the overall success rate stood at just 0.67 per cent—roughly one successful candidate for every 148 applicants. Breaking down the intake across cadres, 1,275 candidates were selected for the Superintendent Cadre, 367 for the Inspectorate Cadre, and 2,210 for the Customs Assistant Cadre.

Addressing geographic and gender representation, the NCS chief confirmed that all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were allocated places in line with the Federal Character principle, with each state receiving an equal breakdown of 105 positions. Women secured 839 places, accounting for 21.8 per cent of the overall intake, slightly surpassing their 21.2 per cent application rate.

“A woman who applied to this exercise stood a marginally better chance of selection than a man who applied,” he noted, reassuring unsuccessful applicants that another opportunity is around the corner. “You were not rejected; you were unlucky in a field of extraordinary competition. I encourage you to remain engaged with the Service and to apply again.”

In a major policy shift, the Comptroller General announced that the Service is transitioning to an annual, predictable recruitment cycle starting later this year to streamline manpower planning.

“The 2026 Recruitment Exercise will open later this year, and it is my firm intention that it will be completed within a single calendar year, from advertisement to final list,” he stated. He cautioned all successful candidates to rely exclusively on official communication channels, emphasizing that the recruitment process remains entirely free of charge.