Customs explains why shortlisted candidates await training invitations

The Nigeria Customs Service has explained that candidates shortlisted for recruitment are not automatically guaranteed a place, stating that final screening is still underway. This clarification came after complaints from some successful candidates who claimed they had completed all necessary tests and exams but had yet to receive training invitations.

These candidates, including over 500 applicants, expressed uncertainty about their status after invitations reportedly stopped. Some had even resigned from previous jobs and incurred expenses believing their appointments were secured. The spokesman for the Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, told The PUNCH that merely having a name on the published list does not guarantee a final appointment.

He emphasized that candidates must pass the physical screening and other requirements before being admitted to the training college and commissioned as officers. Maiwada explained that factors like age, academic credentials, medical fitness, and drug use can determine whether a candidate progresses to the next stage. He stressed that even after admission, applicants must successfully complete training and meet academic, physical, and character requirements before becoming a Customs officer.

The ongoing controversy is tied to the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, which saw 573,680 applications for 3,927 vacancies, resulting in only 0.67 percent success rate or one successful candidate for every 148 applicants.