No fewer than 1,911,141 Nigerians have applied for the 2025 recruitment exercise of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), despite multiple delays and technical glitches.

The recruitment process, initially slated to start on June 26, was twice postponed, first to July 14 and then to July 21, due to portal crashes and technical issues. The application deadline, originally August 4, was extended by one week to August 11.

Figures from CDCFIB’s official website show that Kogi (116,162), Kaduna (114,536), and Benue (110,565) recorded the highest number of applicants, while Bayelsa (11,669) and Lagos (14,216) had the lowest. The top five states, Kogi, Kaduna, Benue, Kano, and Niger, produced a combined 510,174 applicants, while the bottom five, Bayelsa, Lagos, Rivers, Ebonyi, and Delta, accounted for 99,658 applicants.

Following the closure of the portal, the board announced that shortlisted candidates will be contacted soon with details on the next stage of the recruitment process. Applicants have been advised to monitor their email, text messages, and the CDCFIB portal for updates.

In a statement on its official X (Twitter) account, CDCFIB thanked all participants, writing:

“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.”