By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has concluded the final phase of its 2025 recruitment exercise, with nearly 3,000 shortlisted candidates screened through documentation, physical fitness assessments and medical examinations in Abuja.
The two-week exercise, which commenced on September 7, 2026, ended on Saturday, September 19, at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Gwagwalada, covering candidates for the Assistant Superintendent of Customs II (ASCII), Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres.
Speaking on the outcome, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Frank Onyeka, said the Service introduced measures to address gaps identified during the earlier phase and improve the efficiency of the screening process.
Onyeka said the candidates were screened in batches to reduce congestion and ensure an orderly exercise, adding that measures put in place had resulted in a smoother process.
Also speaking, 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 improved process to the introduction of personalised screening forms containing candidates’ records and details for sports, medical examinations, documentation and other assessment stages.
He said the system had helped to eliminate discrepancies and made it easier for officials to verify candidates’ information against records already captured in the recruitment system.
Musa stressed the importance of continuous manpower development, noting that the expanding responsibilities of the Customs Service in national security, border protection and other areas require a well-trained and capable workforce.
He added that candidates would be assessed based on criteria including age, physical fitness and drug screening, while those who fail to meet the stipulated requirements could be disqualified, subject to the final decision of the Service’s management.
The Customs officer also advised candidates and members of the public to rely on the Service’s official website and verified social media platforms for recruitment information to guard against fraudulent messages and scams.
