The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the adoption of an annual recruitment cycle, marking a shift from the irregular hiring pattern previously used by the agency.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja while unveiling the final list of successful candidates for the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise.
According to him, recruitment into the Service will now become a predictable yearly process, allowing prospective applicants to know when new opportunities will become available.
He disclosed that the 2026 recruitment exercise will begin later this year and is expected to be completed within the same calendar year, from the publication of vacancies to the release of the final list of successful candidates.
Adeniyi said the systems, screening procedures and verification mechanisms developed during the just-concluded recruitment exercise have now been fully established, making future exercises faster, more efficient and more transparent.
3,852 candidates selected
The Comptroller-General also announced the release of the final list of 3,852 successful candidates for the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, which commenced in December 2024.
The successful candidates are distributed across the Service’s cadres as follows:
Superintendent Cadre: 1,275 candidates
Inspectorate Cadre: 367 candidates
Customs Assistant Cadre: 2,210 candidates
Adeniyi revealed that the Service received 573,680 applications for the available positions, making it one of the largest recruitment exercises conducted by the agency.
Applicants underwent several stages of assessment, including computer-based tests and verification of their credentials using the national identity database.
He explained that the lengthy recruitment process was largely due to the high volume of applications and the need to fill vacancies created by the retirement of senior officers.
Merit-based selection
The Customs boss maintained that the recruitment process was conducted strictly on merit and without compromise, adding that successful candidates emerged after rigorous screening.
He also said the exercise complied with the Federal Character principle, ensuring that every state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory was represented.
Adeniyi advised successful applicants to await official notifications regarding physical and medical screening before commencing the next stage of the recruitment process.
He further warned members of the public against fraudsters demanding payment in exchange for employment, stressing that recruitment into the Nigeria Customs Service is completely free and urging anyone approached for money to report such incidents to the Service and relevant security agencies.
Customs adopts annual recruitment, announces 3,852 successful applicants
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