By Edwin Ifeanyi Nwabugu
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has warned Nigerians to beware of recruitment fraudsters who are issuing fake employment letters to unsuspecting job seekers.
In a statement released through its official social media handles, the Service disowned any ongoing issuance of appointment letters, stating categorically that the recruitment process has not yet been concluded.
According to the NCS, the recruitment exercise that began earlier in the year is still in progress and has not reached the stage of issuing employment offers to successful applicants.
The Customs authorities urged the public to disregard any purported letters of employment circulating online or offline, describing them as fraudulent and the handiwork of criminal syndicates.
The Service emphasized that all authentic recruitment announcements, shortlisting, and appointments would only be published through official channels and not through third-party agents.
NCS further advised Nigerians to be vigilant and report any suspicious recruitment activity or individuals claiming to represent the Service to the nearest Customs formation or law enforcement agency.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Lagos, has pledged to intensify its enforcement operations across major trade corridors and border communities within the South-West region.
The Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Shaibu, made this known while briefing journalists on the recent achievements of the Command.
He disclosed that operatives of the FOU intercepted several consignments of contraband goods, including trucks loaded with foreign parboiled rice, as part of renewed efforts to curb the smuggling of prohibited items into the country.
According to Shaibu, the seizures are aimed not only at enforcing Nigeria’s trade laws but also at strengthening food security and protecting local industries.
He added that the clampdown aligns with the Service’s broader objective of safeguarding the nation’s economy and boosting non-oil revenue generation.
The items seized during the latest operations included 5,015 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 15 used vehicles, and 640 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 431.8 kilograms.
Also confiscated were 460 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 143 bales of used clothing, 390 bottles of codeine, 310 branded drugs, 19 cartons of tramadol, and 210 used tyres.
Shaibu further revealed that the Unit intercepted a 20-foot container for false declaration, underscoring the Command’s resolve to deal decisively with economic saboteurs.
He reiterated the Service’s commitment to maintaining zero tolerance for smuggling and ensuring that legitimate trade thrives in line with government policy.
