•The glitch on the customs recruitment pre-test portal
Thousands of applicants shortlisted for the Nigeria Customs Service recruitment exercise were left stranded today as the agency’s pre-test portal suffered repeated crashes.
The online exercise, which was designed to help candidates familiarise themselves with the system ahead of the actual computer-based test, returned multiple error messages, including “500 Internal Server Error,” leaving many unable to log in, reports The PUNCH.
Videos and posts circulating on X and Facebook showed candidates lamenting their ordeal at cybercafés, offices, and homes, as overcrowding worsened the situation.
Some said they waited for hours, refreshing their browsers without success.
Kiliya, with the username #musa_kiliya on X, urged Customs to conduct the test in batches to reduce pressure on the servers.
He wrote, “Many candidates could not access the site for about two to three hours, yet the site still did not open.
“As a result, the intended message did not reach as expected, because the large number of applicants could not access the exam.
“Most cyber cafés were overcrowded. The CBT test should be organised batch by batch to help reduce congestion
“Candidates with SSCE and Diploma/NCE should be allowed to take theirs in batches as well, so they can properly understand how the exam works.”
Another applicant, Mario Twinsley, who goes by #De_Kennedys on X, criticised the agency’s preparedness.
“Dear #CustomsNG, your server is down and people can’t write the exam.
“Who are your developers that don’t know about simulating the kind of request you expect? Are they not aware of load balancing?” he posted.
A Facebook user, Sani Sa’ad Bunza, also narrated how a friend missed the pre-test.
“She literally sat down for a whole hour refreshing the page, but to no avail.
“I truly felt bad that in 2025, we still cannot guarantee a reliable system for such an important national exercise,” he wrote.
Similarly, an X user, Sandra, with the handle #Sandraa20k, said she was stuck for two hours at the facial capture stage, adding, “I think I will give up here. I am tired of sitting down.”
Another candidate, Bolaji Oladeji Aduralere, tweeting from #BolajiAduralere, lamented that the portal crashed midway through the exercise.
“At 3pm today, those shortlisted for the Nigeria Customs Pre-Test are currently on it, guess what? Many are experiencing server errors.
“The site probably crashed, not working as expected. It’s well with us in this country,” he wrote.
Mustapha, identified as #MUSTYAAU on X, said the development raised credibility concerns. “This is what we’re facing during the Nigeria Customs pre-test in 2025.
“How is a national recruitment portal this unprepared? Thousands of applicants are stuck, frustrated, and unheard. We deserve a fair process.”
The Nigeria Customs Service had earlier explained that the pre-test was not the actual examination but a preparatory stage to allow applicants practise log-in procedures, complete facial verification, and review instructions ahead of the main CBT.
However, the glitches have raised concerns among candidates over the credibility and readiness of the recruitment process.
Responding to the complaints, NCS acknowledged the technical glitches that frustrated thousands of applicants during its recruitment pre-test.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Monday, the agency attributed the difficulty to heavy traffic on the portal.
“We are currently experiencing high traffic on the site, which may cause temporary inaccessibility.
“Kindly keep trying as our team works to resolve the issue,” the NCS wrote.
The service assured applicants that its technical team was working to stabilise the system and urged candidates to remain patient.
