Customs Launches Digital Vehicle Verification System to Tackle Smuggling, Boost Transparency
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken another major leap in its digital transformation agenda with the official launch of the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS) – a cutting-edge digital platform designed to curb vehicle smuggling, enhance transparency, and promote accountability in automobile importation across Nigeria.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, unveiled the system on Monday, 20 October 2025, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja, describing it as a landmark innovation that closes long-standing loopholes in the vehicle clearance process and safeguards national revenue.
“For years, verification of imported vehicles relied on fragmented and outdated methods that left room for misinformation, fraud, and revenue leakages,” Adeniyi said. “The launch of this system is another score on the board for our bold transformation agenda.”
According to him, the CVMS was developed in collaboration with the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) and a team of local technical experts to provide a secure, efficient, and user-friendly verification process accessible to all Nigerians.
Adeniyi explained that the system will drastically reduce the circulation of smuggled and improperly cleared vehicles, while also empowering the public to verify vehicle authenticity before purchase. “This new solution strengthens the integrity of our Service by promoting transparency, accountability, and trust,” he noted.
He added that for a token fee of ₦15,000, individuals can verify the authenticity of any vehicle through the CVMS portal using any valid debit or credit card issued by financial institutions in Nigeria or abroad. Verification results, he said, are generated instantly, providing details of the vehicle’s origin, customs duty status, and clearance records.
The platform also creates a centralised database that allows Customs officers and other authorised agencies to trace and confirm vehicle details within minutes — a move Adeniyi said will enhance operational efficiency and inter-agency coordination.
“In essence, 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,” the Customs chief emphasised.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the Trade Modernisation Project, the Managing Director, Dr. Jummai Umar-Ajijola, applauded the Customs leadership for its steadfast commitment to modernising the Service through technology.
She described the CVMS as a “bold, forward-looking initiative” that reflects the NCS’s readiness to meet global standards in trade facilitation and revenue management.
“The TMP will continue to support the Service in achieving its vision for modernisation and ICT-driven advancement,” Umar-Ajijola stated, adding that the partnership between TMP and NCS represents a shared commitment to improving efficiency, revenue generation, and stakeholder confidence.
Also speaking at the event, the National President of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), Ajibola Adedoyin, commended the Customs Service for introducing a system that enhances credibility in vehicle transactions.
He expressed optimism that his members would adopt the CVMS once its operational benefits are fully demonstrated.
“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 said.
The introduction of the CVMS marks another milestone in the ongoing transformation of the Nigeria Customs Service under Adeniyi’s leadership.
By enabling real-time verification of vehicles through a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)-based process, the system not only promotes transparency and accountability but also safeguards consumers from fraudulent purchases and strengthens confidence in Nigeria’s automobile trade.
With this innovation, the NCS reinforces its commitment to technology-driven reforms, revenue integrity, and the fight against vehicle smuggling – key pillars of its broader vision for a modern, efficient, and transparent Customs Service.
