Customs Unveils New Verification Platform to Empower Nigerians and Decisively Curb Vehicle Smuggling and Duty Fraud

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a significant digital solution, the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS), aimed at decisively curbing vehicle smuggling, customs duty evasion, and fraud across the nation. The platform, which marks a major step in the Service’s modernization agenda, was officially unveiled by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Monday at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja.

The CVMS is a centralized digital system that allows the public, importers, and car dealers to instantly verify the legitimate clearance and duty payment status of any imported vehicle. To use the system, Nigerians can access the platform from anywhere, input the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and pay a verification fee of N15,000.

Speaking at the launch, Comptroller-General Adeniyi described the initiative as a “bold step” towards enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Customs operations. “This platform democratizes access to verified information, enabling the public to make informed purchase decisions and contributing to a culture of transparency in vehicle importation and trade,” he stated.

For Customs officers, the new system eliminates manual bottlenecks and inconsistencies by providing real-time, validated data, thereby strengthening enforcement capabilities. The Comptroller-General emphasized that the CVMS is integrated with the Customs’ clearance database dating back to 2017, providing a robust history for verification.

The launch of the CVMS is expected to close the loopholes previously exploited by unscrupulous individuals who engaged in the production of fake Customs clearance documents, which has led to a significant loss of government revenue and the circulation of smuggled vehicles nationwide. The new digital solution aligns fully with the Federal Government’s goal of achieving a fully automated border management system.