The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday held a one-day sensitisation and training programme for car dealers and other stakeholders on the newly introduced Customs Verification Management System (CVMS).
The training was conducted at the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’ Auditorium in Kaduna.
Declaring the event open, the Team Lead for the sensitisation exercise, Deputy Comptroller Labaran Ahmed, said the service was undergoing a “remarkable transformation” under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.
He stated that the CVMS stood as one of the key innovations aimed at enhancing operational integrity and strengthening collaboration with stakeholders.
Ahmed explained that the CVMS introduces two major improvements designed to redefine the verification and management of vehicle duty documentation.
He said the first improvement simplification streamlines the entire process of confirming vehicle duty status by eliminating manual checks and reducing the need for multiple office visits.
The second improvement accessibility brings verification closer to end-users, allowing them to confirm duty status anywhere and anytime using mobile devices or computers.
According to him, the system will reduce stress associated with vehicle clearance, minimize errors, and ensure that all stakeholders, including dealers, buyers, law enforcement agencies and vehicle registration authorities can make informed decisions based on accurate and up to date information.
In remarks delivered on behalf of the ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Comptroller Abubakar Alkali, the Revenue Comptroller said the CVMS aligned with the Comptroller General’s innovation agenda and the broader reforms currently underway in the NCS.
He described the platform as a critical tool for improving transparency, accountability and ease of doing business in the automobile sector.
Alkali said the system would help verify authentic vehicle import duty payments, eliminate fake documents, reduce smuggling and safeguard government revenue.
He stressed that the initiative was created to support, not hinder, genuine car dealers by providing a simple and reliable mechanism to confirm a vehicle’s status before purchase, registration or resale.
He urged participants to engage actively during the sensitization, ask questions and collaborate with the Service toward ensuring the system’s success.
Also speaking, Alhaji Aminu Dankakalo, the Chairman of the Car Dealers Association, Kaduna State chapter, praised the NCS for its commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement.
He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller General and the CVMS sensitization team for what he described as a highly impactful and well-delivered training session.
The chairman also commended members of the association and other participants for their active contributions, saying that their engagement underscored the importance of the initiative to the growth and sustainability of the automobile business in Kaduna State and beyond.
The sensitisation programme featured presentations, demonstrations and interactive sessions aimed at helping participants understand the workings and benefits of the new digital verification platform.
