Customs screens 3,000 recruits, announce improved verification process
By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigeria Customs Service has concluded the final phase of its 2025 recruitment exercise, with nearly 3,000 shortlisted candidates screened under an improved process designed to enhance efficiency, reduce congestion and strengthen verification.
The exercise which started on Monday, September 7, 2026, ended on Saturday, September 19, at the Training and Doctrine Command, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The screening covered candidates shortlisted for the Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres.
Unlike previous exercises where large numbers of candidates could converge at screening centres, the latest exercise was conducted in batches to ensure better coordination and minimise congestion.
The development followed concerns identified during an earlier phase of the recruitment process, prompting the Service to introduce additional measures aimed at improving the experience for both candidates and officials.
Speaking on the exercise, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Frank Onyeka, said the Service had responded to the gaps observed during the earlier stage.
According to him, measures were introduced to ensure a smoother screening process and prevent a recurrence of the challenges experienced previously.
Onyeka also stressed the importance of discipline and responsibility among candidates, noting that the recruitment exercise was designed to identify applicants who met the requirements established by the Service.
A member of the coordinating team, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Adamu Musa, said the exercise had recorded significant improvements, with close to 3,000 candidates screened without any casualty.
Musa attributed the improvement partly to the introduction of personalised screening forms containing candidates’ records and information required for the different stages of the exercise.
Under the new system, each shortlisted candidate is assigned a form containing relevant personal information and details covering documentation, physical fitness, medical assessment and other screening requirements.
The system, according to Musa, allows officials to verify information already captured in the Service’s records rather than relying entirely on forms issued manually at the screening centre.
He explained that the measure was also intended to strengthen the integrity of the process by making it more difficult for candidates’ records to be altered during the various stages of screening.
The Customs official said the exercise underscored the importance of continuous manpower development as the Service takes on expanding responsibilities in border protection, national security, revenue collection and trade facilitation.
He noted that the changing responsibilities of the Service required a workforce capable of responding effectively to emerging demands across the country’s borders and trade corridors.
Musa disclosed that candidates were assessed against established criteria, including age requirements, physical fitness and drug screening.
He explained that candidates who test positive for hard drugs, exceed the stipulated age limit or have physical conditions considered capable of affecting their ability to perform assigned duties could be disqualified, subject to the final decision of the Service’s management.
The screening exercise therefore served not only as a recruitment stage but also as a verification mechanism for determining whether shortlisted applicants met the standards required for service in the Nigeria Customs Service.
Musa urged candidates and members of the public to remain vigilant against fraudulent recruitment messages, advising them to obtain information only through the official Nigeria Customs Service website and its verified social media platforms.
The conclusion of the exercise marks another stage in the Service’s effort to build its workforce while strengthening transparency, verification and administrative efficiency in the recruitment process
