Customs Launches Digital Verification Platform for Vehicle Duty Payment
By Patience Ikpeme
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS), a digital platform designed to provide a seamless process for verifying the duty payment status of imported vehicles.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Wale Adeniyi, unveiled the system on Monday in Abuja, describing it as “a simple, seamless, and secure way to verify vehicle duty payment status.”
The platform was developed by Afripoint Consult in collaboration with the Trade Modernization Project (TMP).
According to Adeniyi, the new system will ensure that every imported vehicle in the country can be authenticated, traced, and verified whenever the need arises.
“This platform redefines how vehicle verification is conducted across our Customs ecosystem and throughout Nigeria,” Adeniyi said. “Today marks another bold step in our ongoing drive to modernize the operations of the Nigeria Customs Service.
If you recall, I made a commitment that our policy thrust would rest on three key pillars — collaboration with the private sector, consolidation of previous gains, and the delivery of innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness. The launch of the Customs Verification Management System today is a clear demonstration of that commitment.”
Adeniyi said the platform empowers the public while strengthening institutional integrity through transparency, accountability, and trust.
“This system provides a centralized digital platform where vehicle records can be traced, verified, and confirmed within minutes,” he said. “It improves the efficiency of our enforcement units, federal operations units, and all relevant arms of Customs. In essence, it democratizes access to verified information, enabling the public to make informed decisions and fostering transparency in vehicle importation and trade.”
He explained that the CVMS would be deployed immediately across all Customs commands, adding that anyone in Nigeria can access it for a fee of N15,000.
“For years, verification of imported vehicles relied on fragmented and outdated methods — systems that left room for misinformation, fraud, and leakages, costing the country significantly and causing frustration for genuine importers,” Adeniyi noted. “While no single solution can solve all problems, this is a decisive first step toward eliminating the deceptive practices of those who have exploited the system for too long.”
Managing Director of Afripoint Consult, Mr. Ajibola Adetula, said the CVMS was developed to simplify and secure the process of confirming vehicle clearance records.
“It brings accuracy and transparency into a space that has long been challenged by misinformation, manual checks, and unreliable data,” Adetula explained. “With CVMS, we are closing that gap — ensuring that every verification is authentic, traceable, and backed by official Customs data.”
Chairman of the Trade Modernization Project (TMP), Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, represented by Managing Director Hajiya Jummai Umar, described the partnership with the Customs Service as strategic and mutually beneficial.
“We are committed to success through collaboration with both international and local partners. We must work together to succeed,” she said.
