Susan Abayomi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the final phase of its 2025 recruitment exercise, with shortlisted candidates undergoing documentation, physical fitness assessments and medical screening in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The two-week exercise, which began on September 7, 2026, is being conducted at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College and is scheduled to run until September 19.
The screening covers candidates shortlisted for the Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres.
To ensure an orderly process and prevent congestion, the candidates are being screened in batches according to the alphabetical order of their states of origin.
Speaking to the candidates, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Frank Onyeka, urged them to maintain discipline and comply with the guidelines throughout the exercise.
Onyeka, who spoke on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the Service was assessing more than the physical fitness of applicants, stressing that character, discipline and professional conduct were also important considerations.
He urged the candidates to remain orderly and demonstrate the level of discipline expected of officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Customs official also disclosed that the Service was working with the Customs Police and other relevant units to safeguard the integrity and credibility of the recruitment process.
Also speaking, the Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Dow Gaura, said administrative improvements and inter-agency collaboration had contributed to making the screening process more efficient.
Gaura said the exercise reflected the Service’s focus on continuous operational improvement, collaboration and innovation.
He described the screening process as seamless and hitch-free, noting that no casualties had been recorded at the centre.
The Service reiterated that the recruitment process would be conducted transparently and in line with established guidelines. Candidates were advised to rely only on official communication from the NCS and to avoid individuals or groups seeking to influence the process through unofficial channels.
The final screening phase is expected to determine candidates who will proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process. Successful applicants will ultimately join the Service to strengthen its manpower capacity and support its responsibilities in trade facilitation, revenue collection and border security.
The screening for candidates in the Assistant Superintendent of Customs cadre was scheduled to conclude on September 10, while the exercise for candidates in the Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres will continue until September 19.
The Service urged all candidates to adhere strictly to the screening requirements and conduct themselves responsibly throughout the exercise.
