Thousands of job seekers were left frustrated on Monday after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recruitment pre-test portal crashed, preventing shortlisted candidates from accessing the online exercise.
The pre-test, scheduled for September 22, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., was designed to familiarise applicants with the system ahead of the main computer-based test. Instead, the portal repeatedly returned error messages, including the dreaded “500 Internal Server Error,” leaving applicants stranded across cybercafés, offices and homes.
Candidates from across the country lamented the situation. Abdullahi Kabiru, an applicant from Nasarawa State, urged the agency to conduct tests in batches to reduce server overload. “Many candidates could not access the site for about two to three hours. The exam never opened,” he said.
Others described overcrowding in cybercafés as desperate applicants tried in vain to log in. Ojila Adole, from Benue State, linked the chaos to Nigeria’s high unemployment rate: “If every Nigerian youth was gainfully employed, only a few would seek Customs jobs. But the reverse is the case. Everyone wants a chance.”
Critics accused the agency of poor planning. Etuk Effiong, from Cross River State, called the failure an “international embarrassment,” questioning why developers had not anticipated server capacity issues. Public affairs analyst Mike Divine was equally scathing: “It’s nauseating. Customs has existed for decades, yet it still struggles with a simple online test. This shows how unserious our institutions remain.”
Civil society voices also weighed in. Mcfredericks Akor Edache of Tracka, Benue State, said the ordeal reinforced public doubts about transparency in Nigeria’s recruitment processes. “Nigerians shouldn’t face undue stress just because there are limited jobs. Experiences like this only fuel mistrust in government hiring.”
Responding to the backlash, the Nigeria Customs Service admitted its pre-test portal suffered “high traffic” and promised a rescheduled exercise. “We are currently experiencing high traffic on the site, which may cause temporary inaccessibility. Kindly keep trying as our team works to resolve the issue,” the NCS stated via Facebook.
The agency later announced that the pre-test would be repeated, advising all shortlisted Superintendent Cadre applicants to use their NIN to check new batches, dates and times.
For many, however, the damage is done. The debacle has renewed calls for investment in digital infrastructure and greater professionalism in public sector recruitment.
