Nigeria Customs Warns Against Fake Recruitment Lists on Social Media

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued a strong warning to job seekers about a fraudulent recruitment shortlist circulating on social media platforms. The fake publication, which purportedly shows a breakdown of candidates shortlisted per state for the final stage of the 2025 Superintendent Cadre recruitment exercise, has been categorically denied by customs authorities. In an official statement released on Saturday, the NCS emphasized that the viral information did not originate from any of its authorized communication channels and urged applicants to disregard the misleading content entirely.

“The publication currently circulating online did not originate from the Nigeria Customs Service,” the statement declared, advising applicants to rely exclusively on verified NCS platforms for accurate updates. This warning comes at a critical juncture in the 2025 recruitment process, which officially began on December 27, 2024, following a nationwide advertisement campaign. The initial call for applications attracted an overwhelming response with 573,523 candidates applying across the Superintendent, Inspectorate, and Customs Assistant cadres, highlighting the intense competition for positions within the Service.

The recruitment process has been methodically structured to ensure fairness and credibility. After a comprehensive documentary screening phase, 286,697 applicants were shortlisted to participate in the first phase of the Computer-Based Test (CBT). The NCS explained that these tests were conducted in batches to maintain efficiency and fairness across the large applicant pool. While candidates from all cadres participated in the initial CBT, only those successful under the Superintendent Cadre have been invited to proceed to the second phase of the examination. This next stage will be conducted at designated centers across the six geopolitical zones, aligned with candidates’ states of origin—a strategic approach that reflects the Service’s commitment to transparency, merit-based selection, and adherence to federal character principles.

The NCS has established a dedicated communication system to maintain direct contact with legitimate candidates. “All official updates regarding the recruitment exercise are communicated directly to shortlisted applicants through the NCS Recruitment Update Portal at https://updates.customs.gov.ng,” the Service emphasized in its statement. This centralized information channel is designed to prevent confusion and protect applicants from potential misinformation or exploitation. The Service has further reinforced its commitment to conducting a recruitment process that adheres to global best practices, ensuring that selection is based on merit while still respecting Nigeria’s federal character requirements for balanced national representation.

The emergence of this fake shortlist highlights the persistent challenges facing government recruitment efforts in Nigeria, where high unemployment rates make public sector positions highly coveted. Job scams targeting desperate seekers have become increasingly sophisticated, often spreading through social media channels with convincing but fraudulent information. Security experts have noted that such scams may sometimes be aimed at collecting personal information from applicants or extracting payments under false pretenses. The NCS warning comes amid similar alerts from other government agencies that have also had to contend with recruitment-related misinformation in recent months.

As the legitimate recruitment process continues, the NCS has advised all applicants to exercise patience and vigilance. The Service has cautioned against sharing unverified information, which could inadvertently perpetuate fraud or create unnecessary anxiety among genuine candidates. With the next phase of testing scheduled to proceed according to the official timetable, the Customs Service remains focused on identifying the most qualified candidates to join its ranks. This recruitment drive represents a significant opportunity for the NCS to strengthen its workforce as it continues to fulfill its critical role in border security, revenue generation, and trade facilitation across Nigeria.