…Comptroller-General Adeniyi orders case-by-case review for 397 dropped candidates, insists rigorous standards and legal actions against fraud will remain in place.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has stepped in to address growing concerns following the exclusion of a group of shortlisted candidates from entering the training college during its recent recruitment exercise. Recognizing the agitation among the affected applicants, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, personally met with representatives of the aggrieved group and ordered a case-by-case reappraisal of their grievances. The initiative aims to provide a fair hearing to those with legitimate complaints while reassuring the public of the administration’s commitment to transparency.
Addressing the controversy, the Service clarified that inclusion in the final shortlist is merely a preliminary step rather than an automatic guarantee of enlistment into the agency. Management explained that the recruitment process mandates rigorous, multi-stage evaluations encompassing physical fitness and endurance assessments, medical records, age checks, credential verifications, and drug screenings. Out of the screened candidates, 397 were disqualified due to issues ranging from substance abuse (excluding cigarettes and alcohol) to age discrepancies, medical unfit conditions, and irregularities identified during the selection procedure.
To resolve genuine grievances, the NCS has opened an official communication channel, urging all affected candidates to submit their formal complaints and accurate personal details to helpdesk@customs.gov.ng. Under this new arrangement, applicants who choose to lodge appeals will undergo a fresh screening exercise to re-evaluate their eligibility. The Service emphasized that this window is designed to grant fair recourse without compromising the mandatory standards required for national security personnel.
However, the agency issued a stern warning that the re-examination process will strictly enforce the law and will not serve as an automatic ticket to training. In cases where investigations uncover criminal conduct—such as certificate forgery, impersonation, or deliberate fraud—the individuals involved will be immediately turned over to law enforcement authorities for legal action and prosecution. The review will uphold all established enlistment standards without exception.
Reaffirming its commitment to accountability, the NCS leadership, under CGC Adeniyi, appealed to the affected applicants and the general public to maintain peace and utilize the official email portal. Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, emphasized that while the Service remains open to correcting legitimate errors, it will not lower the high standards expected of personnel tasked with border protection, revenue collection, and national safety.
