Customs Launches Digital Vehicle Verification System to Combat Smuggling and Boost Transparency

Customs Launches Digital Vehicle Verification System to Combat Smuggling and Boost Transparency

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has unveiled a new digital platform designed to curb vehicle smuggling, enhance transparency, and strengthen accountability in automobile importation across the country.

The initiative, tagged the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS), was officially launched on Monday, October 20, 2025, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

Speaking at the event, Adeniyi described the CVMS as a major milestone in the Service’s ongoing modernisation drive, noting that it closes long-standing loopholes in the vehicle clearance process.

“For years, verification of imported vehicles relied on fragmented and outdated methods that left room for misinformation, fraud, and revenue leakages. The launch of this system is another score on the board for our bold transformation agenda,” he said.

Developed in collaboration with the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) and local technical experts, the CVMS offers a secure and transparent verification process accessible to all Nigerians. According to Adeniyi, the platform will drastically reduce the circulation of smuggled and improperly cleared vehicles while boosting government revenue.

He explained that the system empowers both Customs officers and the public by promoting transparency, accountability, and trust.

“Anyone who invests millions of naira in a vehicle would not hesitate to pay ₦15,000 to verify its authenticity and ensure their investment is protected,” Adeniyi added.

Payments for verification can be made using any valid debit or credit card—local or international—with instant access to results. The platform creates a centralised database through which vehicle details can be traced, verified, and confirmed within minutes, thereby improving operational efficiency and inter-agency collaboration.

Adeniyi further noted that the CVMS aligns with Customs’ broader digital reform strategy, which aims to simplify clearance procedures, promote data-driven operations, and increase transparency in revenue collection.

“This system brings openness to an area that was previously shrouded in uncertainty and manipulation. Across all our operations, we are deploying innovative, technology-driven solutions to simplify processes and boost transparency,” he emphasised.

In her remarks, Dr. Jummai Umar-Ajijola, Chairman of the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), represented by the Managing Director of TMP, commended the Customs boss for his steadfast commitment to actualising the CVMS initiative.

She hailed the NCS leadership for championing reforms that position the Service as a forward-thinking institution, reaffirming TMP’s continued partnership in driving ICT-based transformation and improved revenue generation.

Also speaking, the National President of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), Ajibola Adedoyin, applauded the innovation, assuring that his members would embrace the system after an independent assessment.

“I can assure you that once the benefits are clear, the first people to adopt this initiative—90 per cent of them—will be our members,” Adedoyin stated.

The introduction of the CVMS represents a significant stride in the NCS’s transformation agenda. By adopting a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)-based verification process, the system enables individuals, importers, and car dealers to confirm the authenticity, origin, and duty payment status of vehicles in real time—further strengthening public trust in Nigeria’s trade and transport ecosystem.