The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced a new digital verification platform aimed at curbing vehicle smuggling, enhancing transparency, and improving accountability in automobile importation.
The platform, known as the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS), was officially unveiled at the Service’s headquarters in Abuja by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
Speaking at the launch, Adeniyi described the initiative as a landmark achievement in the Service’s ongoing modernisation drive, noting that it closes long-standing loopholes in vehicle clearance.
For years, verification of imported vehicles relied on fragmented and outdated methods that encouraged misinformation, fraud, and revenue leakages. The launch of this system marks another milestone in our bold transformation agenda, Adeniyi said.
Developed in collaboration with the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) and local technical experts, the CVMS provides a secure and transparent verification process accessible to all Nigerians.
According to the Customs chief, the system will help reduce the circulation of smuggled or improperly cleared vehicles, strengthen public confidence, and boost government revenue.
Anyone who invests millions of naira in a vehicle would not hesitate to pay ₦15,000 to verify its authenticity and protect their investment, he added.
Adeniyi explained that payments can be made using any valid card issued by financial institutions in Nigeria or abroad, with verification results generated instantly. The platform also creates a centralised database through which vehicle details can be traced and confirmed within minutes, improving operational efficiency and inter-agency coordination.
He emphasised that the CVMS forms part of the Service’s broader digital reform strategy aimed at simplifying clearance procedures, promoting data-driven operations, and ensuring transparency in revenue collection.
In essence, this system brings openness to an area previously shrouded in uncertainty and manipulation. Across all our operations, we are deploying innovative, technology-driven solutions to simplify processes and boost transparency, he stated.
The National President of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), Ajibola Adedoyin, lauded the initiative, describing it as a welcome development. He also assured that his association would adopt the system after carrying out its independent assessment.
