The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a temporary suspension of its ongoing paramilitary recruitment exercise, following an overwhelming influx of applications that strained the online system.
In an official statement issued on July 16, 2025, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) confirmed that the recruitment portal https://recruitment.cdcfib.gov.ng will reopen on Monday, July 21, 2025, after critical technical upgrades.
The notice, signed by Maj. Gen. AM Jibril (rtd), Secretary to the Board, cited the need to optimize system performance to ensure a transparent and fair recruitment process for all applicants.
“The temporary suspension will allow the portal to better handle the massive volume of applications while guaranteeing a smooth, transparent, and fair process,” the CDCFIB stated.
Why the Suspension?
Sources across Nairametrics, The Guardian Nigeria, and Daily Trust confirm that the move became necessary after repeated portal crashes and access delays disrupted the application process, which officially opened on July 14 after an earlier delay from its original launch date of June 26.
The portal is responsible for processing applications into four major paramilitary services:
- Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
- Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS)
- Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)
- Federal Fire Service (FFS)
These agencies fall under the oversight of the CDCFIB, and each plays a critical role in Nigeria’s national security and public safety architecture.
High Interest from Nigerian Youth
Officials said the flood of interest reflects a growing desire among young Nigerians to serve in critical public security roles. Over 500,000 applications were reported in the first 48 hours, according to a source close to the board.
“We appreciate the enthusiasm of young Nigerians who wish to serve their country,” said Maj. Gen. Jibril. “Our commitment is to make the process fair, efficient, and transparent for all eligible candidates.”
Eligibility and Application Requirements
Applicants are expected to meet stringent criteria. These include:
- Nigerian by birth
- Age: 18 to 35 years
- Educational qualifications: from SSCE to university degrees and professional certifications
- Cadres open:
- Superintendent (General Duty)
- Inspectorate Cadre
- Assistant Cadre
- Physical requirements:
- Men: minimum height of 1.65 meters
- Women: minimum height of 1.60 meters
- Men must meet chest measurement standards
- Clean criminal record
- Certified medical fitness from a government-approved hospital
The CDCFIB has also warned applicants to avoid third-party agents, reiterating that successful candidates will be contacted directly through official channels only.
Lessons from the System Glitch
This latest development underscores the growing need for robust digital infrastructure in federal recruitment processes. With Nigeria’s youth population surging — and a reported over 40% youth unemployment rate (National Bureau of Statistics, 2024) — interest in government recruitment exercises continues to spike.
Digital policy analysts told Techpoint Africa that agencies must now anticipate millions of concurrent users and invest in scalable cloud-based solutions to avoid service disruptions.
What’s Next?
If all goes as scheduled, the portal will resume full operation by Monday, July 21, and candidates are advised to reapply or complete pending applications early to avoid system congestion.
Meanwhile, civil society groups and digital governance advocates are calling for greater transparency in shortlisting and selection — a step they say will help reduce corruption and nepotism historically associated with public service recruitment.
