By Abigail David

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced that it will begin conducting recruitment exercises annually, marking a shift from its previous practice of recruiting at irregular intervals.

Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi made the announcement on Tuesday during a briefing at the Service headquarters in Abuja while unveiling the final list of successful candidates for the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise.

According to Adeniyi, the new recruitment policy is designed to improve workforce planning by ensuring vacancies created through retirements and other exits are filled promptly, while providing young Nigerians with regular employment opportunities.

He said the Service has established the necessary screening, verification and recruitment systems to support a more efficient annual process.

“The Nigeria Customs Service is moving to an annual recruitment cycle. Recruitment will no longer be an occasional exercise but a predictable yearly process,” Adeniyi said.

He disclosed that the 2026 recruitment exercise is expected to begin later this year and is planned to be completed within a single calendar year, from the advertisement stage to the release of the final list of successful candidates.

The Comptroller-General explained that the extended timeline for the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise was largely due to the development of a comprehensive recruitment framework, which will now serve as the foundation for future exercises.

He added that the annual recruitment model will enable the Service to plan its manpower needs more effectively and provide unsuccessful applicants with a clear timeline for future opportunities instead of waiting several years for another recruitment exercise.

The announcement comes after the conclusion of the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, during which 3,852 candidates were offered appointments across the Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres.

By Abigail David

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released the final list of successful candidates for its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, selecting 3,852 applicants from a total of 573,680 applications.

Announcing the results at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi described the recruitment as one of the most competitive in the agency’s history, with only 0.67 per cent of applicants securing employment.

The successful candidates comprise 1,275 officers for the Superintendent Cadre, 367 for the Inspectorate Cadre and 2,210 for the Customs Assistant Cadre.

Adeniyi apologised for the delay in concluding the exercise, explaining that the recruitment, which began in December 2024, required extensive verification due to the unprecedented number of applications and multiple stages of screening.

According to him, applicants underwent application screening, computer-based examinations and identity verification before the final list was compiled. Successful candidates will now proceed to physical and medical examinations before final approval by the Customs Board.

The Comptroller-General noted that the Inspectorate Cadre was the most competitive category, with 128,604 applications for just 367 positions. Overall, only one applicant was selected for every 148 applications received.

He encouraged unsuccessful applicants not to lose hope, stressing that many met the requirements but could not be accommodated because of the limited vacancies. He also assured them that future recruitment opportunities would be announced.

Adeniyi said the recruitment complied with the Federal Character principle, with all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory represented in the final list. Women accounted for 839 successful candidates, representing 21.8 per cent of the total intake.

He added that the new recruits, with a median age of 26, are expected to support the Service’s transition to a technology-driven customs administration focused on automation, intelligence-led operations and improved trade facilitation.

The Customs boss also warned applicants against fraudsters, reiterating that recruitment into the Service is free and that anyone demanding payment in exchange for employment should be reported.

By Abigail David

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration is considering restricting the operations of commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke Napep) in parts of Abuja city centre as part of efforts to address security concerns.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike disclosed this during his monthly media briefing on Tuesday, stating that the proposal followed recommendations from the FCT Security Council after intelligence reports linked the use of motorcycles to certain criminal activities.

According to the minister, he has approved additional security logistics and directed security agencies to identify areas within the city where the operations of commercial motorcycles and tricycles may be restricted.

Wike said a total ban across the Federal Capital Territory is not being considered because of Abuja’s size and the transportation needs of residents. However, he noted that restrictions may be necessary in specific parts of the city.

He added that security agencies are currently working on the proposed implementation framework.

The minister also addressed the recurring presence of street beggars in the nation’s capital, saying previous efforts to relocate them have produced only temporary results, as many eventually return.

According to Wike, the FCT Administration cannot sustainably provide long-term accommodation and welfare for all displaced persons arriving from neighbouring states, including Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and Kaduna.

He explained that Abuja’s central location and its proximity to surrounding states continue to make the challenge more complex, while assuring residents that the administration would continue working to improve security and public order.