Customs explains why shortlisted candidates await training invitations

The Nigeria Customs Service has clarified that candidates named on its recruitment list are not automatically granted appointment. Final screening is still underway before successful applicants can begin training. This explanation comes after complaints from some candidates who believed they had completed all necessary tests and received appointments through the online portal, but had not yet received invitations for training.

Over 500 applicants were reportedly left uncertain about their status after invitations stopped on Monday. Some had resigned from previous jobs and incurred expenses based on the assumption their appointments were secured. However, the spokesman for the Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, explained that merely appearing on the list does not guarantee an appointment.

Candidates must still pass physical screening and other requirements before being admitted to the training college and commissioned as officers. Factors such as age, academic qualifications, medical fitness, and drug use can disqualify candidates at this stage. The spokesman emphasized that even after admission into the training college, applicants must successfully complete training and meet all academic, physical, and character requirements before being commissioned.

Drug testing is a regular part of Customs Service procedures for all officers, regardless of rank. The controversy stems from the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, which saw 573,680 applications for 3,927 vacancies, resulting in a 0.67 percent success rate.