Customs Concludes Recruitment Screening, Screens Nearly 3,000 Without Casualty

By Adebola Muili

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has concluded the final phase of its 2025 recruitment exercise, with nearly 3,000 shortlisted candidates screened without casualty following measures introduced to improve efficiency and reduce congestion at the screening centre.

The two-week exercise, which commenced on Monday, September 7, 2026, and ended on Saturday, September 19, was conducted at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Candidates shortlisted for the Assistant Superintendent of Customs II (ASCII), Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres participated in documentation, physical fitness assessments and medical screening during the exercise.

The screening was conducted in batches to ensure an orderly process and reduce congestion at the centre, according to the Service.

Speaking on the outcome of the exercise, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Frank Onyeka, said measures had been put in place to address gaps identified during the earlier phase of the recruitment process.

Onyeka said the measures were designed to ensure a smoother and more efficient screening exercise, while stressing the need for candidates to maintain discipline and responsibility.

“We have put measures in place to reduce congestion and ensure a smoother process this week. The gaps identified last week have been addressed, and we do not expect them to recur this week,” he said.

Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller of Customs and member of the coordinating team, 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 across the various stages of the exercise.

He explained that the system had made it easier for officials to verify candidates’ information and helped reduce the possibility of records being altered during the screening process.

“Any candidate that has been shortlisted has a form designed especially for him, unlike in the past where you come, they issue you a form, and then some people along the way go and even change some of the records,” Musa said.

According to him, the forms contain candidates’ names and other details covering sports, medical assessments, documentation and the checklist of required items.

He said the system allowed officials to verify the information already captured in the recruitment database as candidates moved through the different stages of the exercise.

Musa also stressed the importance of continuous manpower development within the Service, noting that the increasing responsibilities of Customs in national security, border protection and other areas required continuous improvement of its workforce.

He said candidates were assessed against criteria established by the Service, including age, physical fitness and drug screening.

Musa explained that candidates who tested positive for hard drugs, exceeded the stipulated age limit or had physical conditions that could affect their ability to perform their duties might be disqualified, subject to the final decision of the Service’s management.

He also advised candidates and members of the public to verify recruitment information through the official website and verified social media platforms of the Nigeria Customs Service to guard against fraudulent messages and recruitment-related scams.

The conclusion of the screening exercise marks the completion of the final phase of the recruitment process for the shortlisted candidates across the three cadres.