What recruitment have Customs, Immigration and Civil Defence actually done since Tinubu’s four years in office?

*More than half a million Nigerians competed for fewer than 4,000 Customs positions, while questions remain over the final employment figures for Immigration and Civil Defence

By ABANIKANDA OLUMORO (UK)

“My question to President Tinubu’s administration remains: Since you assumed office in 2023, how many Nigerians have actually secured employment through Customs, Immigration and Civil Defence? I stand ready to be corrected. But let the correction come with verifiable figures, not merely announcements.”

I need to be corrected if I am wrong, but what recruitment exercises have the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps conducted since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023?

More importantly, how many Nigerians have actually been employed by these agencies since the present administration came into power? The directive by National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) asking the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), which is allegedly coercing opposition state governors, traditional rulers and civil servants over 2027 general elections, to tell Nigerians about Tinubu’s achievements. I am asking the questions because some people that have reviewed that directive along with me are asking to know what could those Tinubu’s achievements be?

These are straightforward questions that deserve clear answers from the Federal Government, the Ministry of Interior and the management of the agencies concerned.

I am raising the questions because employment remains one of the major concerns confronting Nigerian youths. Thousands of graduates and other qualified citizens are searching for jobs, while many families continue to struggle with the rising cost of living.

For such Nigerians, recruitment into a federal government agency represents an opportunity to earn a living, support their families and contribute to national development.

Yet, when recruitment announcements are made, the number of applicants frequently runs into hundreds of thousands, while the available positions remain comparatively small thus placing pressure especially on the first such attempt in four years being recently made by the Nigeria Customs Service which even has run into deadlock going by number of complaints about alleged corruption leading to indefensible dropping of 500 of the about 4,000 candidates earlier released as successful.

This raises an important question: What has the Tinubu administration achieved in providing employment through these three important government agencies since 2023?

I am not suggesting that no recruitment has taken place. Available records show otherwise. My concern is whether the opportunities provided are sufficient, how many appointments have been completed and whether Nigerians are being adequately informed about the results.

CUSTOMS RECRUITMENT: 3,852 POSITIONS FOR MORE THAN 573,000 APPLICANTS

Let us begin with the Nigeria Customs Service.

The Service commenced a major recruitment exercise in December 2024, advertising 3,927 vacancies across three cadres: Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant.

“It would be factually incorrect to claim that the Tinubu administration has done nothing concerning recruitment into Immigration and Civil Defence. The recruitment exercise was advertised, applications were processed, examinations were conducted and successful candidates progressed to further stages. But here lies the distinction that the government needs to clarify. Shortlisting candidates is not the same as employing them. Conducting examinations is not the same as issuing appointment letters. Completing physical screening is not necessarily proof that successful candidates have resumed duty.”

According to a September 10, 2025, statement by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Customs received 573,523 applications during the initial stage. Following documentary screening, 286,697 applicants were invited to proceed to the computer-based test stage.

The exercise was eventually concluded with the release of the final list in July and August 2026.

According to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, 3,852 candidates were offered positions out of 573,680 applications received. The successful candidates comprised: Superintendent Cadre: 1,275 candidates, Inspectorate Cadre: 367 candidates and Customs Assistant Cadre: 2,210 candidates.

The announcement was reported by the News Agency of Nigeria and Voice of Nigeria in early August 2026.

These figures deserve serious consideration.

More than 573,000 applications were received for fewer than 4,000 available positions. That translates to approximately one successful applicant for every 148 applicants.

In other words, the overwhelming majority of those who sought employment through the exercise could not secure a place.

This is not necessarily evidence of wrongdoing or an improperly conducted recruitment exercise. Customs has statutory manpower requirements, and recruitment must be based on approved vacancies, qualifications, professional standards and the needs of the Service.

Nevertheless, the figures illustrate the enormous pressure on Nigeria’s employment market.

Why should so many qualified Nigerians have to compete for so few available government positions?

Could the Federal Government do more to support employment creation across other sectors of the economy, including agriculture, manufacturing, technology and small businesses?

These are legitimate questions that should form part of any assessment of the administration’s employment policies.

The Customs recruitment exercise also raises a question about timing. The process began in December 2024 but was not concluded until 2026.

The Comptroller-General apologised for the delay and attributed it to the volume of applications, verification procedures and other administrative challenges. He also announced plans to move towards annual recruitment, with the 2026 exercise expected to open later that year.

That commitment is welcome if implemented.

However, Nigerians will want to see a predictable recruitment calendar rather than prolonged uncertainty after applications have closed.

Applicants deserve to know when screening will take place, when final lists will be published and when successful candidates will be expected to resume duty.

IMMIGRATION, CORRECTIONAL SERVICE, CIVIL DEFENCE, OTHERS: WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

The next questions concern the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Recruitment into these agencies is overseen by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, commonly known as CDCFIB.

The Board also oversees recruitment into the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Federal Fire Service.

In 2025, the Federal Government opened a recruitment exercise covering the four paramilitary services. The process included online applications and a computer-based test conducted in November 2025.

On June 14, 2026, the Board announced that successful applicants from the computer-based test stage of the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise would proceed to physical screening and document verification.

Applicants were directed to check their status through the Board’s official recruitment portal.

By August 2026, the recruitment process had continued to attract announcements concerning physical screening and document verification for candidates seeking positions in the paramilitary services.

Therefore, it would be factually incorrect to claim that the Tinubu administration has done nothing concerning recruitment into Immigration and Civil Defence.

The recruitment exercise was advertised, applications were processed, examinations were conducted and successful candidates progressed to further stages.

But here lies the distinction that the government needs to clarify.

Shortlisting candidates is not the same as employing them. Conducting examinations is not the same as issuing appointment letters. Completing physical screening is not necessarily proof that successful candidates have resumed duty.

Consequently, the public needs the final employment figures for each agency.

How many people have actually been recruited into the Nigeria Immigration Service since May 2023?

How many have joined the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps during the same period?

How many successful candidates have received appointment letters, completed the required formalities and commenced duty?

How many vacancies were approved for each agency, and how many have been filled?

These are the figures that would provide a clearer picture of the employment opportunities created under the present administration.

As of October 16, 2026, the public information reviewed for this article establishes that the recruitment processes have progressed through several stages. However, it does not provide a sufficiently verified, consolidated breakdown of completed appointments in Immigration and Civil Defence across the entire period since May 2023.

That gap should be addressed by the relevant authorities.

WHY THE NUMBERS MATTER

The importance of these questions goes beyond politics.

Customs is responsible for enforcing customs laws, facilitating legitimate trade, combating smuggling and collecting revenue. Immigration is responsible for administering immigration laws and managing matters relating to entry into and departure from Nigeria. Civil Defence has responsibilities that include protecting critical national assets and infrastructure and supporting public safety.

All three agencies require adequate personnel to perform their statutory duties effectively.

Recruitment is therefore not simply an employment programme. It is also an investment in institutional capacity, national security and service delivery.

When agencies operate without sufficient manpower, their ability to meet their responsibilities may be affected. Conversely, recruitment must be carefully planned to ensure that new personnel can be trained, equipped and adequately supported.

The government must balance these considerations.

However, the existence of legitimate manpower constraints should not prevent the authorities from explaining their recruitment plans and publishing the results of completed exercises.

If only a limited number of positions can be funded, Nigerians deserve to know the approved numbers and the reasons behind them.

If recruitment has been delayed by budgetary limitations, administrative difficulties or other challenges, those reasons should be stated clearly.

Transparency would help applicants understand the process and reduce the spread of speculation.

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PUBLISH A COMPREHENSIVE RECRUITMENT REPORT

I believe the Federal Government should publish a consolidated report covering recruitment into Customs, Immigration and Civil Defence from May 29, 2023, to date.

Such a report should contain the following information for each agency:

First, the number of recruitment exercises conducted. Nigerians should know which exercises were initiated and completed during the period.

Second, the number of approved vacancies. The government should disclose how many positions were authorised for each recruitment exercise.

Third, the number of applications received. This would help demonstrate the level of public demand for employment in the agencies.

Fourth, the number of candidates who completed each stage. The figures should distinguish between applicants, shortlisted candidates, examination participants, candidates who passed screening and those who made the final lists.

Fifth, the number of actual appointments. The authorities should state how many appointment letters were issued and how many successful candidates eventually resumed duty.

Sixth, the number of outstanding vacancies. Where approved positions remain unfilled, the government should explain whether further recruitment is planned.

Finally, the future recruitment timetable. Applicants should be given reliable information about subsequent exercises, subject to the availability of approved vacancies.

These disclosures would enable the public to distinguish between recruitment announcements and actual employment outcomes.

They would also make it easier to assess the government’s performance against its stated employment objectives.

ARE RECRUITMENT EXERCISES ENOUGH TO ADDRESS UNEMPLOYMENT?

There is another side to this discussion.

The Federal Government cannot employ every Nigerian seeking work, nor should every employment solution depend on government recruitment.

Even if Customs, Immigration and Civil Defence substantially increase their recruitment numbers, their combined capacity will remain limited compared with the number of Nigerians seeking employment.

The Customs figures demonstrate this challenge clearly.

More than 573,000 people applied for 3,852 positions. Even if the recruitment process was conducted perfectly, the available vacancies could not accommodate the vast majority of applicants.

This is why employment creation must be approached as a broader economic responsibility.

The government needs to create conditions in which private businesses can expand, industries can employ more workers, farmers can improve production and young entrepreneurs can establish sustainable businesses.

Vocational training, access to affordable credit, infrastructure development and a stable business environment also have important roles to play.

The public service should recruit according to its genuine manpower needs, while the wider economy creates opportunities for those who cannot find employment in government agencies.

President Tinubu’s administration should therefore be judged in this area through verifiable employment figures and the wider effects of its economic policies, rather than recruitment announcements alone.

LET THE GOVERNMENT CORRECT ME

My position is simple.

I need to be corrected if my understanding is wrong, but I want the correction to come with facts.

The available records show that Customs recruited 3,852 candidates through its 2024/2025 exercise. They also show that Immigration and Civil Defence participated in the broader paramilitary recruitment process that progressed through examinations and screening stages in 2025 and 2026.

What remains necessary is a complete account of appointments made across all three agencies since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

I therefore call on the Federal Ministry of Interior, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the CDCFIB to provide the public with the relevant figures.

Let Nigerians know how many vacancies were approved, how many candidates were selected and how many have actually commenced employment.

Let the government also explain its plans for future recruitment and the steps being taken to ensure that the process remains transparent, merit-based and free from fraud.

The issue is not whether the government has announced recruitment exercises. It has.

The issue is whether the number of positions available, the time taken to complete the exercises and the number of people eventually employed meet the country’s manpower requirements and the reasonable expectations of its citizens.

Nigerian youths deserve clarity. Applicants who have spent months waiting for results deserve timely communication. Families who have invested their hopes in these opportunities deserve honest information.

My question to President Tinubu’s administration remains: Since you assumed office in 2023, how many Nigerians have actually secured employment through Customs, Immigration and Civil Defence?

I stand ready to be corrected.

But let the correction come with verifiable figures, not merely announcements.