Nigeria Customs Launches Digital Vehicle Verification System to Tackle Smuggling and Boost Transparency

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

Known as the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS), the innovation 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, CGC Adeniyi described the initiative as a landmark 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“For years, verification of imported vehicles relied on fragmented and outdated methods that left room for misinformation, fraud, and revenue leakages.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 major score for our bold transformation agenda,” Adeniyi said.

He explained that the CVMS was developed in collaboration with the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) and local technology experts to provide a secure and transparent vehicle verification process accessible to all Nigerians.

According to him, the platform will drastically reduce the circulation of smuggled or improperly cleared vehicles while boosting government revenue.

“This new solution empowers the public and strengthens the integrity of our Service 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 safeguard their investment,” he added.

Adeniyi noted that payments can be made using any valid card issued by financial institutions in Nigeria or abroad, with verification results generated instantly. He also highlighted that the CVMS creates a centralised database where vehicle details can be traced, verified, and confirmed within minutes, enhancing operational efficiency and inter-agency coordination.

The Customs chief said the initiative formed part of a broader digital reform strategy aimed at simplifying clearance procedures, promoting data-driven operations, and increasing transparency in revenue collection.

“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,” he said.

In her remarks, the Managing Director of the Trade Modernisation Project, Dr. Jummai Umar-Ajijola, who represented the TMP Chairman, commended the Customs leadership for its unwavering commitment to reform.
She praised CGC Adeniyi for championing initiatives that position the NCS as a forward-thinking, technology-driven institution.

“The CVMS represents a bold step in leveraging innovation to improve revenue generation, efficiency, and stakeholder confidence. The TMP will continue to support the Service in achieving its vision for modernisation and ICT-driven advancement,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, the National President of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), Ajibola Adedoyin, lauded the initiative and assured that his members would adopt the system after conducting their independent review.

“Once the benefits are clear, the first group to embrace this innovation, about 90 percent of them, will be our members,” Adedoyin said.

The launch of the CVMS marks another milestone in the NCS’s transformation agenda, reinforcing its commitment to accountability, innovation, and public trust within Nigeria’s trade and transport ecosystem.

The system introduces a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)-based verification process, allowing individuals, importers, and car dealers to confirm the authenticity, origin, and duty payment status of vehicles in real time.