By Rafiyat Sadiq
As the world marks International Youth Day, millions of Nigerian youths remain trapped in a cycle of scarce government opportunities, where getting a job often depends more on godfathers’ connections and cash payments than merit.
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) recently revealed it received an astonishing 1,911,692 applications for just 30,000 vacancies across its four paramilitary agencies.
The alarming gap between the 1.9 million applicants and the mere 30,000 available slots across the 36 states in the country paints a grim picture, one that suggests limited opportunities often go to the highest bidder.
For the millions who applied, the question looms: what hope remains for ordinary Nigerians in a system where merit is overshadowed by money and influence?
Nigeria’s unemployment rate stood at 5.3% in the first quarter of 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Independent research platform Statista projects a marginal drop to 4.84% in 2025, but for millions of job seekers, that offers little comfort.
“What hope do I have?” asks Mohammed Onimisi, a 35-year-old who has reached the upper age limit for most government jobs. Since graduating in 2013, he has applied for more than 20 government positions without success.
“At this point, I’m hopeless,” he told Pinnacle Daily. “Everybody is now calling who they know to push for those limited slots. Some are even paying huge amounts for a position. If I’m not selected this time, that might be the end for me.”
Onimisi criticised a system he believes has failed Nigerian youth. “It’s sad. If you visit some government offices, you’ll find people who have no business being there, but they got the job because their father used connections or money.”
He warns that the worsening job crisis is pushing many young people toward cybercrime.
“They make school sound compulsory, but after graduation, you’re abandoned. Even in school, we’re not equipped to face the labour market without a white-collar job. All this is pushing many youths to patronise cybercrime,” he said.
Recounting his experience after school, he said, “After school, I applied for different jobs, but I mostly did not even pass the first stage. I was left with no choice but to start teaching in one private school, but unfortunately, teaching in Nigeria is not lucrative.
“But what choice do I have? The government needs to do better; we are all Nigerians, and it’s so bad that some people have higher chances of being employed than others due to who you know.”
READ ALSO: Self-Employment: Nigeria’s Best Hope Against Unemployment
Another applicant from Kogi State, who requested anonymity, revealed to Pinnacle Daily that he was relying on family influence to secure a job. “My uncle is trying to help, but with so many applicants, it’s a survival-of-the-fittest game. I just pray it works.”
Data from CDCFIB shows Kogi State recorded the highest number of applicants at 116,162, followed by Kaduna (114,536) and Benue (110,565). Bayelsa had the lowest figure with 11,669, followed by Lagos (14,216). The top five states, consisting of Kogi, Kaduna, Benue, Kano, and Niger, produced 510,174 applicants, while the five lowest, like Bayelsa, Lagos, Rivers, Ebonyi, and Delta, accounted for 99,658.
Experts Push for Self-Employment
President of the Coalition of Young Compatriots in Africa, Mr Olugbenga George, says entrepreneurship offers the most realistic escape from Nigeria’s unemployment trap.
“Formal job opportunities are too few. We need to equip young people to thrive in technology, agriculture, vocational services, and other informal sectors,” he said.
Mr George urged the government to back startups with micro-grants, collateral-free loans, tax breaks, easier business registration, and better infrastructure like reliable electricity and broadband.
He also called for a national entrepreneurship curriculum, affordable vocational training, and stronger private sector support for mentorship and business scaling.
A businessman, Mr Nonso Okeke, who has been self-employed for over 15 years, condemned the “pay-to-play” job culture and advised youths to value self-reliance.
He linked the crisis to poor career guidance in schools, where students are often forced into courses they have no passion for, leaving them without practical skills.
“Vocational trades like carpentry and shoemaking shouldn’t be seen as a last resort,” he said. “They can be sustainable careers when white-collar jobs fail.”
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
