Desperate Race for Survival: 1.9 Million Nigerians Battle for Just 30,000 Civil Defence and Immigration Jobs

In a stark reflection of Nigeria’s deepening unemployment crisis, a staggering 1.9 million desperate job seekers have applied for a mere 30,000 vacancies in the country’s paramilitary services, igniting one of the most competitive recruitment exercises in recent history.

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) confirmed the figures on its recruitment portal, http://www.recruitment.cdcfib.gov.ng, on Monday, laying bare the sheer scale of the nation’s job market imbalance.

Before opening the online application window, the Board had disclosed plans to recruit no fewer than 30,000 personnel across the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Correctional Service, and the Federal Fire Service.

However, the flood of applications has painted a sobering picture of an economy where millions of educated and skilled citizens are competing fiercely for limited opportunities.

State-by-State Scramble for Survival
The statistics reveal that Kogi State topped the chart with 116,243 applicants, closely followed by Kaduna (114,599) and Benue (110,644). The full breakdown reads like a map of desperation, with large numbers pouring in from nearly every corner of the country:

Kano – 89,421

Niger – 79,567

Kwara – 78,467

Katsina – 76,917

Nasarawa – 76,677

Adamawa – 68,381

Oyo – 67,255

Plateau – 63,450

Osun – 62,399

Borno – 56,955

Ondo – 53,963

Akwa Ibom – 52,531

Bauchi – 52,159

Imo – 48,301

Taraba – 45,188

Gombe – 45,074

Jigawa – 44,468

Ogun – 42,070

Enugu – 41,291

Yobe – 38,169

Kebbi – 34,612

Edo – 33,581

Anambra – 32,933

Ekiti – 32,719

Cross River – 32,226

Abia – 31,716

Sokoto – 31,155

FCT – 30,320

Zamfara – 29,282

Delta – 27,980

Ebonyi – 23,617

Rivers – 22,217

Lagos – 14,221

Bayelsa – 11,680

These numbers underline a grim reality: in some states, the ratio of applicants to available positions is well over 60 to 1, turning the recruitment into a high-stakes lottery.

The Road Ahead for Applicants
The Board urged patience, assuring that shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email and text message with further instructions in the coming weeks.

“Please monitor your email and text messages in the coming weeks for notifications,” the statement read, offering a faint glimmer of hope to millions whose futures may hinge on the outcome.

For many Nigerians, this recruitment drive is not just about securing a paycheck—it is about survival, dignity, and the possibility of escaping the suffocating grip of joblessness.