By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has opened a fresh window for applicants disqualified during its recent recruitment screening to submit complaints for review, following concerns from candidates who appeared on the recruitment shortlist but were subsequently denied admission into the training college.
In a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, mnipr, mniia, on Monday, 19 October 2026, the NCS said the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, had directed a case-by-case reappraisal of the complaints after meeting with some of the aggrieved applicants.
The Service acknowledged the concerns raised by the affected candidates and stated that the review was intended to ensure that legitimate complaints were heard and given appropriate attention.
It, however, clarified that inclusion on the final shortlist does not automatically guarantee enlistment into the Service, explaining that recruitment involves several stages of verification and assessment that candidates must successfully complete before they can be admitted into the training college.
According to the statement, the screening process covers credential and document verification, physical fitness and endurance assessments, medical examinations, age verification, drug screening and other mandatory requirements.
The NCS disclosed that issues relating to substance abuse, excluding cigarettes and alcohol, physical fitness, medical records, age and submitted documentation were identified among 397 applicants during the screening exercise.
It added that some candidates were also disqualified because of irregularities identified in their selection process, stressing that the findings informed the Service’s decisions during the exercise.
The Service maintained that these requirements were necessary to ensure that only candidates who met the established standards were considered for enlistment.
To address complaints from those who believe they were unfairly disqualified, the NCS directed affected applicants to forward their details and complaints to helpdesk@customs.gov.ng.
The applicants were advised to provide accurate information to enable the Service to examine their individual cases and determine whether their complaints had merit.
The statement further explained that applicants who take advantage of the fresh opportunity would be subjected to another screening exercise. It emphasised that the review would neither waive the established recruitment requirements nor automatically guarantee admission into the training college.
The Service also warned that where investigations establish criminal conduct, including certificate fraud and other offences, the individuals involved would be referred for appropriate legal action and prosecution.
The NCS urged the affected applicants and the general public to remain calm and make use of the designated email address rather than resorting to other channels for resolving their grievances.
It assured applicants that the review would be conducted in accordance with established procedures, with due consideration for genuine complaints and the need to preserve the credibility of the recruitment process.
The Service, under the leadership of Adeniyi and its management team, maintained that it remained open to legitimate complaints but would not compromise the standards required of officers entrusted with national security, border protection, revenue collection and public safety responsibilities.
