Paramilitary Board Disqualifies 793,858 Applicants as National Recruitment Enters Critical Physical Screening Phase

The CDCFIB disqualifies nearly 800,000 applicants as the 2026 paramilitary recruitment moves to physical screening following nationwide exams.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 5:52 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politics Nigeria

The Massive Scale of National Paramilitary Interest

The ongoing recruitment exercise for Nigeria’s paramilitary services has drawn an unprecedented 1.8 million applications, reflecting high interest in the security sector. According to a detailed statistical breakdown released by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board on Tuesday, the process has reached a pivotal juncture. Of the vast applicant pool, 1,120,491 candidates successfully processed their documentation to reach the computer based examination stage. This collective effort spans the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Correctional Service.

Structural Failures Lead to Major Disqualifications

A significant portion of the applicant pool was eliminated prior to the testing phase due to administrative inconsistencies. According to the board, 432,935 applications were flagged as incomplete and subsequently discarded from the system. An additional 360,923 candidates were disqualified during the shortlisting phase after preliminary screening checks identified various discrepancies. These combined losses account for the 793,858 individuals who are no longer eligible for the 2026 recruitment cycle, illustrating the board’s rigid adherence to documentation standards.

Performance Metrics of the Computer Based Test

The board has published a comprehensive national score distribution derived from the recently concluded computer based testing. According to the data, 221,996 candidates scored between 0 and 40, while 229,155 fell within the 41 to 60 bracket. The largest concentration of performance was found in the 61 to 80 range, which accounted for 278,543 candidates. The top tier of the pool consists of 142,697 applicants who scored between 81 and 100, representing the most competitive segment of the remaining candidates.