Nigeria Customs warns Nigerians about fake recruitment shortlist

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has warned the public about a fake Computer-Based Test (CBT) recruitment shortlist making the rounds on social media.

On Sunday, the NCS said the document, which claims that a shortlist for a recruitment test has been released for July 2025, is completely false. The agency stressed that it did not issue any such announcement and that the information did not come from any official Customs channel.

Abdullahi Maiwada, Assistant Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, described the viral document as “fraudulent and misleading.” He pointed out that the fake statement had clear errors, including formatting issues and an electronic signature that did not match the agency’s standard. The recruitment timeline in the document was also inconsistent with any real Customs recruitment process.

“The NCS wishes to categorically state that the said press release is fraudulent, misleading, and did not emanate from the Nigeria Customs Service. At no time did the Service issue any such announcement regarding a CBT slated to take place in July 2025,” Maiwada said.

The NCS reminded Nigerians that all authentic information about recruitment and other activities will only be shared on its official website, verified social media pages, and recognised national newspapers. The agency urged people not to share or act on unverified messages, especially those promising jobs or shortlisting for exams.

The Customs Service is now working to trace the source of the fake release and says it will take action against those behind it. The agency also thanked Nigerians for being alert and reporting suspicious messages.

The NCS opened applications for recruitment in December 2024 after getting approval to hire 3,927 new officers in 2025. The agency has warned before that scammers might try to take advantage of the recruitment process to trick people.

The NCS says it will notify the public through proper channels when it is ready to move to the next stage of recruitment. Nigerians are advised to stay vigilant and rely only on official sources for updates.