Customs Recruitment Review Opens After NCS Flags 397 Applicants

ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has opened a Customs recruitment review window for applicants disqualified in its recent screening exercise, allowing aggrieved candidates to submit complaints for case-by-case reassessment.

The Service said the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, approved the review after meeting some of the affected applicants. They had been shortlisted for recruitment but disqualified from proceeding to the training college.

Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS National Public Relations Officer, announced this in a statement on Monday, October 19, 2026. He said the review is meant to ensure that legitimate complaints are examined without compromising established recruitment standards.

Why the NCS disqualified some applicants

The Service clarified that appearing on the final shortlist does not automatically guarantee enlistment. Candidates must satisfy several mandatory screening requirements before admission into training.

Its screening identified issues involving 397 applicants, covering:

• substance use, excluding cigarettes and alcohol
• physical fitness
• medical records
• age verification
• submitted documentation

Some candidates were also disqualified over irregularities identified in their selection process. The NCS said the findings reinforced the need to keep recruitment standards and enlist only candidates who meet every requirement.

How rejected applicants can appeal

The NCS directed applicants who believe they were unfairly disqualified to submit their details and complaints through a designated email address. Candidates must provide accurate information to help the review.

• Submitting a complaint will not automatically qualify an applicant for the training college.
• Candidates whose complaints are accepted for further consideration will undergo fresh screening.
• Applicants found to have engaged in criminal conduct, including certificate fraud, will be referred for legal action and prosecution.

The Service stressed that the review is not a waiver of established standards or a guarantee of enlistment. It urged affected applicants and the public to remain calm and use the designated channel.

Customs insists on transparent recruitment

Kanyi Daily reports that the NCS reiterated its commitment to a credible, transparent and accountable recruitment process. It said personnel must meet the standards required for national security, border protection, revenue collection and public safety.

The review comes as the Service continues reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency, strengthening enforcement and increasing revenue collection. It generated ₦4.03 trillion in revenue in the first half of 2026, exceeding its mid-year projections and keeping it on course for an annual target of ₦11 trillion.

Adeniyi attributed that performance to automation, intelligence-led enforcement and efforts to remove human discretion from core customs processes. He said the reforms were driving significant revenue growth without undermining trade.