KEY POINTS
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The Customs Verification Management System allows Nigerians to verify vehicle clearance and duty payments.
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The platform improves transparency and reduces fraud in the importation process.
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It supports the Federal Government’s broader digital transformation goals.
The Nigeria Customs Service has introduced a new digital vehicle verification platform to simplify confirming imported vehicles’ clearance and duty payment status. Called the Customs Verification Management System, the platform officially went live on Monday after its launch at the service’s Abuja headquarters.
Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi said the initiative represents a major step in Customs’ ongoing modernisation and transparency efforts. He explained that the platform blends technology, accountability, and efficiency to strengthen operational integrity and improve public trust in customs procedures.
Developed in partnership with the Trade Modernisation Project and indigenous technology company Afripoint Consult, the system addresses persistent issues in vehicle documentation. It was designed to eliminate loopholes that previously enabled fraudulent activities and delays during the verification and clearance of imported vehicles nationwide.
Empowering citizens through verified data
According to Adeniyi, the Customs Verification Management System gives Nigerians easy access to accurate and verifiable vehicle information within a few minutes.He said users can check an imported vehicle’s duty payment status by entering its Vehicle Identification Number and paying a ₦15,000 verification fee.
“The launch of this system reflects our commitment to modernise our operations,” Adeniyi said. “It provides citizens, importers, and dealers with reliable data while equipping customs officers with tools that reduce manual errors and improve decision-making.”
The new platform, which had been in trial for two months, is now fully operational and accessible worldwide. Adeniyi emphasised that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda and strengthens enforcement across all Customs commands.
Strengthening trust in trade and revenue systems
According to The Inquirer, Afripoint Consult’s Managing Director, Ajibola Adetula, described the system as “a homegrown solution for both the public and Customs officers.” He explained that while the public can verify a vehicle’s clearance status anytime, enforcement teams can cross-check documents even outside working hours.
The Chairman of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria, Ajibola Adedoyin, welcomed the system as long overdue, saying it will protect legitimate dealers and reduce harassment by enforcement officers.
Customs’ shift to digital verification is part of a broader 20-year Trade Modernisation Project aimed at automating border management and trade facilitation by 2030. The new system integrates vehicle records dating back to 2017, providing a single digital source for verification and helping to close gaps that previously enabled fraud and smuggling.
By digitising vehicle verification, the Nigeria Customs Service hopes to rebuild public confidence, secure government revenue, and create a transparent ecosystem for vehicle importation.
