Customs Unveil e-Platform, Target End To Vehicle Smuggling

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 initiative was launched by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, as part of the Service’s ongoing modernisation agenda.

Speaking at the launch, Adeniyi described the initiative as a milestone in closing long-standing loopholes in the vehicle clearance process. He said the digital platform would drastically reduce the circulation of smuggled and improperly cleared vehicles while boosting government revenue.

“For years, verification of imported vehicles relied on fragmented and outdated methods that left room for misinformation, fraud, and revenue leakages.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,” CGC Adeniyi said.

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

“This new solution empowers the public and strengthens the integrity of our Service by promoting transparency, accountability, and trust.”

CGC Adeniyi added, “Anyone who invests millions of naira in a vehicle would not hesitate to pay N15,000 to verify its authenticity and ensure their investment is protected.”

The Customs chief noted that payments can be made using any valid card issued by financial institutions in Nigeria or abroad, with verification results generated instantly.

He further explained that the platform creates a centralised database through which vehicle details can be traced, verified, and confirmed within minutes, improving operational efficiency across Customs formations and enhancing inter-agency coordination.

Adeniyi stated that the CVMS is part of the Service’s 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 emphasised.

Speaking on behalf of the chairman of the Trade Modernisation Project, Dr Jummai Umar-Ajijola, the managing director of TMP, commended the Customs boss for his steadfast commitment to actualising the CVMS initiative.

She commended the leadership of the Comptroller-General for championing reforms that position the Nigeria Customs Service as a forward-thinking institution, saying, “The TMP will continue to support the Service in achieving its vision for modernisation and ICT-driven advancement.”

Dr Umar-Ajijola reaffirmed the Project’s partnership with Customs, adding that the CVMS represents a bold step in leveraging technology to improve revenue generation, efficiency, and stakeholder confidence.

In his remarks, the national president of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), Ajibola Adedoyin, commended the initiative and assured that his members would key into the system after conducting 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 said.

The CVMS launch marks another significant step in the NCS’s transformation drive, reinforcing its commitment to accountability, innovation, and public trust in Nigeria’s trade and transport ecosystem.

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