Over 1.9 Million Nigerians Scramble for Limited Slots in Immigration, Civil Defence and Fire Service Jobs

RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
12 August 2025

In a dramatic illustration of Nigeria’s tightening job market, an astonishing 1,911,141 Nigerians have thrown their hats into the ring for the 2025 recruitment drive by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB). With just 30,000 positions on offer, the figures translate to a brutal selection rate of barely 1.57%, setting the stage for one of the fiercest job contests in the nation’s history.

The application portal, which finally shut down late Monday night, had endured weeks of turbulence. Originally scheduled to open on June 26, the exercise stumbled at the starting line when repeated portal crashes forced postponements — first to July 14, then to July 21. Technical breakdowns, coupled with a surge of early applicants, meant the closing date had to be extended from August 4 to August 11.

When the dust settled, the numbers told a story that was as staggering as it was sobering. Kogi State emerged as the epicentre of the recruitment stampede with 116,162 applicants, narrowly ahead of Kaduna (114,536) and Benue (110,565). Kano (89,355) and Niger (79,504) rounded out the top five states, collectively accounting for an eye-watering 510,174 hopefuls.

At the other end of the spectrum, Bayelsa recorded the smallest number of entries — 11,669 — followed by Lagos (14,215), Rivers (22,207), Ebonyi (23,601), and Delta (27,956). Combined, these five states mustered fewer than 100,000 applications — less than a fifth of Kogi’s figure alone.

The stakes are particularly high because the vacancies span four major paramilitary agencies: the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Correctional Service, Federal Fire Service, and Nigeria Immigration Service. With no more than a few hundred to a thousand slots per state, insiders warn that even highly qualified candidates will face daunting odds.

The CDCFIB, in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, expressed appreciation to applicants while outlining the next steps:

“Recruitment Applications Closed! We thank all applicants for their interest and commitment to serving with honour, integrity, and national pride. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted shortly with further instructions. Please monitor your email and text messages over the coming weeks.”

For many, the process has been more than just a career pursuit — it has been a shot at stability in a volatile economy. “This is not just about wearing a uniform,” said Musa Adamu, a graduate applicant from Kaduna. “It’s about securing a livelihood when every other door seems closed.”

Economists point to the overwhelming response as a stark reflection of Nigeria’s high youth unemployment rate, with millions of qualified graduates chasing limited public-sector jobs for the promise of steady pay, pension security, and social prestige.

With the screening phase now on the horizon, tension is building. The closing of the portal has ended one chapter, but for the 1.9 million contenders, the real battle — the fight for a badge, a salary, and a future — is only just beginning.

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