The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken another decisive step toward deepening transparency and automation in the management of vehicle imports with the sensitisation of key stakeholders on the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS) in Kano.
The initiative forms part of the Service’s broader reform agenda aimed at deploying technology to simplify procedures, enhance compliance and block revenue leakages in the automotive importation process.
The sensitisation programme, organised by the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, brought together players across the automotive value chain to acquaint them with the operations, benefits and compliance requirements of the newly launched digital platform.
In a statement issued to newsmen on Monday and signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Tahir Balarabe, the training was held on Nov. 27, 2025, at the Abdullahi Dikko Inde, CFR Conference Hall, Kano.
According to the statement, the engagement was designed to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the CVMS and ensure its seamless adoption across northern Nigeria and beyond.
The session was facilitated by officers from the ICT Modernisation Department at the NCS Headquarters, led by the Deputy Comptroller and National Coordinator of the CVMS, Labaran Ahmed, in collaboration with Afripoint Consultants Limited, developers of the platform.
Participants at the event included representatives of motor dealers’ associations from Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA).
Speaking at the event, Ahmed described the CVMS as a simple but powerful digital tool that enables the verification of all vehicles entering Nigeria through the use of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
He explained that once a VIN is entered, the system confirms the authenticity and import status of the vehicle and automatically generates a downloadable receipt containing verified details and a QR code.
Ahmed noted that the user-friendly and web-compatible nature of the CVMS makes it easily accessible to both regulators and the public, thereby strengthening compliance and reducing incidences of fraud.
The Customs Area Controller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, applauded the rollout of the platform, describing it as a critical component of modern Customs administration.
Abubakar urged participants to act as ambassadors of the system by sharing accurate information with colleagues, clients and the general public to maximise its impact.
He said that widespread adoption of the CVMS would protect vehicle buyers, improve revenue assurance and enhance trade facilitation within the automotive sector.
The training featured a practical session during which participants conducted real-time vehicle verifications and received instant digital receipts, reinforcing confidence in the efficiency of the platform.
Concerns and misconceptions raised by stakeholders were also addressed during an interactive question-and-answer session, further strengthening buy-in and understanding.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, the Chairman of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDN), Kano State Chapter, Alhaji Madugu Ibrahim, commended the Customs Service for the initiative.
Ibrahim pledged the association’s readiness to comply fully with established vehicle importation guidelines, noting that the CVMS would promote fairness, accountability and professionalism in the automotive trade.
