Technical glitches mar launch of Immigration, Civil Defence recruitment portal

The long-awaited recruitment portal for Nigeria’s paramilitary agencies finally went live on Monday, July 14, 2025 but not without the kind of drama that left many Nigerians scratching their heads.

Initially billed to open on June 26, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) had postponed the launch, citing “adjustments in schedule.” At the time, the Board issued a public notice shifting the date to July 14, assuring eager job seekers that everything was under control.

However, when the new date finally arrived, things didn’t go as planned.

As of mid-day Monday, thousands of prospective applicants trooped online to access the portal recruitment.cdcfib.gov.ng only to be met with a countdown timer showing over four hours remaining. For many, the site remained completely inaccessible. Screenshots of the error pages and the seemingly arbitrary timer flooded social media as frustrated users vented their anger.

The recruitment exercise is expected to cover four major paramilitary outfits under the CDCFIB. Namely, the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Fire Service, and Nigeria Correctional Service.

Despite the massive interest and technical challenges, the Board had not issued any updated statement as of press time on Monday, leaving thousands in limbo.