The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS) — a new digital platform that allows Nigerians to verify the clearance and duty payment status of imported vehicles within minutes.
Unveiled on Monday at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the initiative represents a major stride in the service’s reform and digital transformation drive aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency.
Developed in partnership with the Trade Modernisation Project and indigenous tech firm Afripoint Consult, the CVMS is designed to address long-standing challenges surrounding vehicle clearance, fake documentation, and revenue leakage.
“Today marks an important milestone in our modernisation efforts,” Adeniyi stated. “This platform redefines how vehicle verification is conducted, providing a seamless, secure, and transparent process that empowers citizens and strengthens our enforcement operations.”
The system, which has been in trial mode for two months, is now fully operational and accessible globally. Users can verify vehicles by entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and paying a ₦15,000 verification fee via any debit or credit card, both local and international.
Adeniyi noted that the platform was built to empower citizens, importers, and dealers with verifiable data, while also helping customs officers eliminate manual bottlenecks and standardise operations across commands. “For the first time, Nigerians can confirm the clearance and duty status of any imported vehicle directly from Customs — without intermediaries, without delays, and without doubt,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Afripoint Consult’s Managing Director, Ajibola Adetula, described the system as a “homegrown, bifocal platform” that serves both the public and enforcement officers. “It allows the public to confirm if a vehicle was duly cleared, while Customs officers can cross-check clearance authenticity anytime,” he explained.
Ajibola Adedoyin, Chairman of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria, commended the initiative as “long overdue,” noting that it would significantly reduce cases of harassment of legitimate dealers. “This gives us something concrete to fall back on whenever there’s a dispute about clearance status,” he said.
The launch forms part of Customs’ broader Trade Modernisation Project, a 20-year concession focused on improving trade facilitation, boosting revenue generation, and curbing corruption. The CVMS integrates vehicle records dating back to 2017, helping to close loopholes from fake customs papers and smuggled vehicles.
By digitising verification, the NCS hopes to strengthen public trust, increase revenue, and advance the Federal Government’s goal of achieving a fully automated border management system by 2030.
