Controversy as Customs pre-test exercise disrupted by server glitches

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday, September 22, 2025, kicked off its scheduled Pre-Test exercise for applicants shortlisted under the Superintendent cadre recruitment. However, what was meant to be a smooth trial run quickly ran into trouble as the system suffered server errors.

The exercise, scheduled for 3:00 p.m., was designed to help candidates familiarise themselves with the testing platform ahead of the main Computer-Based Test (CBT). Unfortunately, several applicants reported that they struggled to log in or access the platform due to technical hitches.

In its earlier statement on X, the NCS explained that a dedicated link would be sent to all shortlisted applicants, requiring them to complete their log-in procedures and undergo facial verification before starting the exercise. Candidates were also instructed to read guidelines 30 minutes prior and to click the START button once the allotted time elapsed.

But with the server failure, many participants could not proceed, raising concerns over the smooth conduct of the recruitment process.

The NCS had recently disclosed that 286,697 candidates were invited for the CBT across the Superintendent, Inspectorate, and Assistant cadres, competing for only 3,927 available slots.

The Service also clarified that applicants under the Superintendent Cadre (Level 8) would still participate in another CBT at the next phase of recruitment.

The Service is yet to issue an official statement addressing the technical challenges that marred Monday’s Pre-Test.

Applicants, meanwhile, have expressed frustration and await fresh directives from the authorities.

See some reactions below:

@Nakamura on X wrote: Nigeria Na cruise, rdinary pre test ooo

@space wrote: God is this not the village people at work like this my friend has started mine is still showing an error

Si6_x3 wrote: Have being on this page for over a 10mins have been unable to pass the verification

@space wrote: I won’t be surprised if @CustomsNG tweet that 10k people successfully completed the pretest and they will be the one to get a link for the second test. Because na wetin Nigeria ft pull with the way we plenty so

CruiseMaster Wrote: i can’t stay all day in a place just to reload an unresponsive page, please NCS address us , so i can get to leave here and go do other things, the day is still young.