Nigeria Customs Offers Fresh Review To Applicants Excluded From Training After SaharaReporters’ Reports | Sahara Reporters

According to the NCS, recruitment involves multiple stages of verification and screening, including credential and document checks, physical and endurance assessments, medical examinations, age verification, drug screening and other mandatory requirements.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a fresh window for aggrieved applicants in its recent recruitment exercise to submit complaints for case-by-case review, following SaharaReporters’ reports highlighting concerns over candidates who appeared on the recruitment shortlist but were subsequently denied access to the training college.

The Service, in a statement issued on Monday evening, October 19, 2026, said Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, had met with some of the affected applicants and directed that their complaints be reappraised individually to ensure that legitimate concerns receive appropriate attention.

The development comes after SaharaReporters reported growing complaints from candidates who alleged that they were excluded from training invitations despite appearing on the published final recruitment list and completing various stages of the selection process.

In the statement signed by Abdullahi Maiwada, Deputy Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, the Service acknowledged the concerns raised by some applicants but maintained that inclusion on the final shortlist did not automatically guarantee enlistment into the Service.

According to the NCS, recruitment involves multiple stages of verification and screening, including credential and document checks, physical and endurance assessments, medical examinations, age verification, drug screening and other mandatory requirements.

The Service disclosed that issues involving substance abuse, physical fitness, medical records, age and submitted documentation were identified among 397 applicants during the screening exercise.

It clarified that the substance-abuse category excluded cigarette and alcohol use, stating that the findings were among the reasons some candidates were not allowed to proceed to the training college.

The NCS also said some applicants were rejected over irregularities identified in their selection process during the screening exercise.

“These findings underscore the Service’s commitment to upholding established recruitment standards and ensuring that only candidates who satisfy all prescribed requirements are considered for enlistment into the Service,” the statement said.

However, the Service said it was providing an opportunity for applicants who believe they were unfairly screened out to formally present their grievances for examination.

It directed affected candidates to submit their details and complaints to [[email protected]], urging them to provide accurate information to facilitate the review of their cases.

The Service said the initiative is intended to ensure that genuine complaints receive appropriate attention while preserving the integrity, fairness and credibility of the recruitment process.

The NCS further explained that applicants who take advantage of the new opportunity would undergo fresh screening, stressing that the review would not automatically qualify anyone for admission into the training college.

It warned that where investigations establish criminal conduct, including certificate fraud or other offences, the individuals involved would be referred for appropriate legal action and prosecution.

“The review of complaints will not constitute a waiver of established standards or an automatic guarantee of admission into training,” the Service stated.

The announcement follows complaints by applicants who said they had progressed through several stages of the recruitment process before being excluded from the training exercise.

Some affected candidates had expressed concerns about the financial and personal sacrifices they made during the recruitment process, including travelling for screening and documentation, obtaining required documents and, in some cases, leaving their previous jobs in anticipation of joining the Service.

In its latest response, the Customs Service reiterated that the recruitment process was designed to ensure that only candidates who met all prescribed requirements would be enlisted.

The Service urged aggrieved applicants and members of the public to remain calm and use the designated email address to submit their complaints rather than rely on informal channels.

It also reaffirmed that the review would be conducted in accordance with established procedures and that the Service would not compromise the standards expected of personnel responsible for national security, border protection, revenue collection and public safety.

SaharaReporters previously reported that candidates named on the NCS list of successful applicants who had not been invited to the training camp protested at the Service’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, demanding that everyone on the list be called up immediately.

The protesters gathered at the Customs headquarters to press their demands over the handling of the recruitment process, particularly the failure to invite some candidates whose names appeared on the published final list.

The applicants said they intended to sustain the protest until Friday, insisting that the Service must address their concerns and provide clarity on the status of candidates who participated in the screening exercise but have yet to receive invitations to the training camp.