The Nigeria Customs Service has raised concerns over a rising wave of online scams that falsely claim to offer recruitment and auction opportunities under the agency’s name. The service has cautioned Nigerians to be vigilant to avoid becoming victims of these fraudulent schemes.
During a media briefing in Abuja, Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, disclosed that fake social media accounts impersonating top customs officials, including the Comptroller-General and retired officers, have proliferated.
“We have observed a disturbing rise in fake accounts bearing the names and images of the Comptroller-General of Customs, the National PRO, and even retired senior officers, all falsely claiming to offer jobs and auction opportunities,” Maiwada stated.
He clarified that the NCS does not use social media platforms for recruitment or auction activities, labeling such scams as criminal attempts to damage the service’s reputation and defraud innocent citizens.
In a decisive move against these fraudsters, the NCS arrested Mr. Okoli Okana Boniface on June 16, 2025, for allegedly manipulating the recruitment process while falsely presenting himself as an aide to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
“The case was promptly reported and thoroughly investigated by the Customs Police Unit. Findings confirmed it was a calculated attempt to compromise the integrity of the recruitment exercise,” Maiwada said.
The NCS reaffirmed its commitment to rooting out fraud and urged the public to rely solely on official channels for recruitment and auction information.
“We advise the public to disregard messages or offers from unverified sources and to rely solely on our verified platforms for accurate information,” Maiwada advised.