Over 360,000 Candidates Eliminated as Paramilitary Recruitment Process Advances

Thousands of applicants have been screened out of Nigeria’s ongoing paramilitary recruitment exercise, with fresh data showing that more than 360,000 individuals failed to meet the required criteria.

The figures were released by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) alongside updates on the recruitment process. According to the data, over 1.1 million applications were successfully completed, while a significant number were either disqualified or left unfinished.

Authorities disclosed that 360,923 applicants were removed during the screening stage due to various irregularities and unmet requirements. In addition, more than 432,000 candidates did not complete their applications, further reducing the pool of eligible participants.

The recruitment exercise, which covers agencies such as immigration, civil defence, fire service, and correctional service, attracted well over a million applicants nationwide.

Performance statistics from the computer-based test also revealed a wide spread in scores, with a large portion of candidates falling within the mid-range bracket, while only a small percentage achieved top marks.

Officials emphasized that progression to the next phase will depend strictly on merit, noting that only the highest-performing candidates from each state will be shortlisted for further screening and verification.

The board also reassured applicants that the process remains transparent and urged candidates to rely solely on official communication channels for updates as the exercise moves into its next stage.