Customs Opens Review of Recruitment Complaints, Says 397 Applicants Failed Screening
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has opened a fresh window for reviewing complaints from applicants who were disqualified during its recent recruitment exercise, assuring aggrieved candidates that their cases will be examined individually.
The Service said the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, had directed a case-by-case reassessment of complaints following a meeting with some affected applicants who were screened out despite appearing on the recruitment shortlist.
However, the NCS stressed that inclusion on the final shortlist did not automatically guarantee enlistment, noting that all applicants must satisfy the mandatory requirements for recruitment into the Service.
In a statement issued on Monday, 19 October 2026, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the review was intended to ensure that genuine complaints received appropriate attention without compromising the integrity of the recruitment process.
According to the Service, 397 applicants were identified during the screening exercise as having issues relating to substance abuse, physical fitness, medical records, age verification and submitted documentation.
The NCS clarified that the substance abuse category excluded cigarette and alcohol consumption, adding that other candidates were disqualified over irregularities identified in their selection process.
The Service said the findings reinforced the need to maintain established recruitment standards and ensure that only candidates who met the prescribed requirements were considered for enlistment.
As part of efforts to address concerns raised by the affected candidates, the Customs Service has directed applicants who believe they were wrongly disqualified to submit their details and complaints through its designated email address.
The Service advised aggrieved applicants to forward their complaints to [email protected], stressing that accurate information would be required to facilitate the examination of individual cases.
It said the initiative was designed to provide an official channel through which legitimate grievances could be investigated and resolved in line with established procedures.
The NCS urged affected candidates to take advantage of the opportunity, while cautioning that submitting a complaint would not automatically result in reinstatement or admission into the training college.
According to the Service, applicants whose complaints are accepted for further consideration will undergo fresh screening as part of the review process.
The Customs management maintained that the exercise would be guided by fairness, transparency and accountability, while ensuring that the standards governing recruitment into the organisation remained intact.
The Service also warned that the review process would not shield applicants found to have engaged in criminal conduct during the recruitment exercise.
It stated that where investigations established offences such as certificate fraud or other criminal acts, the individuals involved would be referred for appropriate legal action and prosecution.
The NCS emphasised that the opportunity to challenge disqualification was not a waiver of its recruitment requirements and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of admission into the training college.
The clarification comes amid complaints from candidates who were reportedly prevented from proceeding to the training stage despite having appeared on the recruitment shortlist.
By opening a channel for complaints and fresh screening, the Service said it intended to ensure that genuine cases were examined while preserving the credibility of the recruitment exercise.
The Customs management urged the affected applicants and members of the public to remain calm and utilise the designated email address rather than assume that inclusion on the shortlist conferred an automatic right to enlistment.
The Service reiterated that recruitment into the NCS involved several stages of verification, including credential and document checks, physical and endurance assessments, medical examinations, age verification and drug screening.
It said these requirements were necessary to ensure that prospective personnel possessed the qualifications and physical fitness required to carry out their responsibilities.
The NCS, under Adeniyi’s leadership, reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a credible and transparent recruitment process, noting that its personnel were entrusted with critical responsibilities involving national security, border protection, revenue collection and public safety.
