With the closure of the recruitment portal, 1.9 million Nigerians applied for the recruitment into Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services. These figures highlight the high unemployment rate and citizens’ ongoing search for jobs in the country.
Application Statistics
From July 14 to August 10, 2025, a total of 1,911,285 applications were registered. This is significantly higher than the 573,000 applications received earlier this year for the Nigerian Customs recruitment. The highest number of applicants came from Kogi (116,174), followed by Kaduna (114,546), as well as other states like Benue (110,577), Kano (89,381), and Niger (79,537). In total, the top 10 states account for 46% of all applications.
Portal Issues
The application process was complicated by technical glitches and slow portal performance at the start. Thousands of candidates were unable to access the portal and faced error messages. Following the portal's opening on July 14, many applicants experienced difficulties, leading to dissatisfaction and criticism. Consequently, the CDCFIB temporarily closed the portal to resolve the issues and improve its functionality.
Next Steps for Candidates
Following the closure of the recruitment portal, candidates are expected to monitor their emails and mobile messages, as the CDCFIB will start contacting shortlisted candidates. It has also been noted that the recruitment process will be free of charge, and users must be cautious of fraudsters posing as officials. Further, a computer-based test and screening exercises are anticipated for selected candidates.
The recruitment drive in Nigeria attracted a record number of applications, underscoring the unemployment issues in the country. Technical difficulties with the portal remain a significant barrier for candidates in the hiring process.
