CUSTOMS REOPENS RECRUITMENT COMPLAINTS, ORDERS CASE-BY-CASE REVIEW OF AGGRIEVED APPLICANTS
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has opened a fresh window for aggrieved applicants in its recent recruitment exercise to submit complaints for review, following concerns raised by candidates who were shortlisted but disqualified during screening and denied entry into the training college.
The Service disclosed this in a press statement issued on Monday, October 19, 2026, and signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
According to the statement, the Comptroller-General, after meeting with some affected applicants, directed a case-by-case reappraisal of complaints to ensure that legitimate grievances receive attention.
The NCS, however, clarified that appearing on the final shortlist does not automatically guarantee enlistment, explaining that recruitment involves several stages of verification, including credential checks, physical fitness assessments, medical examinations, age verification, drug screening and other mandatory requirements.
The Service disclosed that 397 applicants were identified during screening with issues relating to substance use, excluding cigarettes and alcohol, physical fitness, medical records, age and submitted documentation. Some candidates were also disqualified over irregularities identified in their selection process.
The statement stressed that the review was intended to address genuine complaints without compromising recruitment standards or the integrity of the Service.
“To provide an avenue for addressing genuine concerns, the Service thereby urges all candidates who feel aggrieved by the outcome of the screening exercise to formally forward their details and complaints to helpdesk@customs.gov.ng,” the statement said.
It advised affected applicants to provide accurate information to facilitate the examination of their cases, adding that candidates seeking a review would undergo fresh screening.
The NCS also warned that applicants found to have engaged in criminal conduct, including certificate fraud and other offences, would be referred for appropriate legal action and prosecution.
It emphasised that the review process would not amount to an automatic admission into the training college or a waiver of established recruitment requirements.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability, the Service urged affected candidates and members of the public to remain calm and use the designated complaint channel.
“While the Service remains open to genuine complaints from affected applicants, it will not compromise the standards required of personnel entrusted with national security, border protection, revenue collection and public safety responsibilities,” the statement added.
