Customs Launches Digital Vehicle Verification Platform to Boost Transparency and Combat Smuggling
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced a new digital verification platform aimed at tackling vehicle smuggling, improving transparency, and promoting accountability in the automobile importation process.
The platform, called the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS), was officially launched at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
Speaking at the event, CGC Adeniyi described the CVMS as a major step forward in the Service’s modernization efforts, noting that it addresses long-standing gaps in the vehicle clearance process.
“For years, vehicle verification relied on outdated and fragmented systems that allowed fraud, misinformation, and revenue loss. This new platform represents another achievement in our transformation agenda,” Adeniyi said.
Developed in partnership with the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) and local technology experts, the CVMS provides a secure, transparent, and easily accessible verification process for all Nigerians.
According to Adeniyi, the system will drastically reduce the prevalence of smuggled and improperly cleared vehicles, while also boosting government revenue.
“This solution empowers citizens and strengthens the credibility of our Service by fostering transparency, accountability, and public trust,” he stated.
He added that vehicle owners can verify their cars by paying a ₦15,000 verification fee, using any valid payment card issued in Nigeria or abroad, and will receive instant results.
The CVMS also establishes a centralized database for tracking and verifying vehicle information in real time, improving efficiency across Customs offices and enhancing inter-agency cooperation.
Adeniyi explained that the initiative is part of the Service’s broader digital reform strategy, focused on simplifying clearance procedures, promoting data-driven operations, and ensuring openness in revenue collection.
“This system brings clarity to an area once clouded by manipulation. Through technology, we are transforming operations to make them simpler, faster, and more transparent,” he emphasized.
Representing the Chairman of the Trade Modernisation Project, Dr. Jummai Umar-Ajijola, the TMP Managing Director commended the Customs leadership for its commitment to modernization. She assured continued collaboration in advancing ICT-driven reforms that enhance efficiency and revenue generation.
In support, the National President of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), Ajibola Adedoyin, praised the initiative, promising that car dealers would adopt the system after independent evaluation.
“Once the benefits are clear, our members—who make up about 90 percent of the market—will be the first to embrace it,” Adedoyin said.
The launch of the CVMS marks another milestone in the NCS’s digital transformation journey, reaffirming its commitment to innovation, accountability, and public confidence in Nigeria’s trade and transportation sectors.
The system operates through a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)-based verification process, allowing individuals, importers, and dealers to confirm a vehicle’s authenticity, origin, and duty payment status in real time.
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