EXPLAINER: Centralised vehicle information database… what to know about the new VREG platform

In April 2020, the federal government commenced moves to create a National Vehicle Registry (VREG), an information system that will curb evasion of duty payment on imported vehicles and eliminate the sale of stolen, accident-wrecked and unsafe vehicles from the Nigerian market.

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, on Tuesday, announced the commencement of the pilot phase at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Kirikiri lighter terminal (KLT) command in Lagos.

Ahmed explained that the platform would be used for information interchange on nationwide vehicle registration, ownership, history and proper road traffic regulation and violation enforcement between key government agencies.

TheCable briefly explains what the VREG is all about and what you need to know to access the portal.

What is VREG?

It is a centralised database for all vehicles in Nigeria using their unique vehicle identification number (VIN).

The platform stores detailed vehicular information such as specifications, ownership, and history of each vehicle in Nigeria.

What is VIN?

VIN is a 17 alphanumeric digit which is located/commonly found at the lower-left corner of the dashboard in front of the steering wheel.

Why VREG?

The ministry of finance, in collaboration with NCS, created VREG as a solution to the challenges of duty evasion, vehicle theft, vehicle-related crimes, and ineffective vehicle insurance coverage, owing to the absence of a centralised nationwide vehicular information system.

How does it work?

All vehicle owners in the country are required to register their VIN on the VREG portal.

The portal provides an option to register as an agent, individual or company/non-governmental organisation (NGO) on the landing page. Other buttons on the landing page include: VIN transfer and VIN verification.

Checks by TheCable showed that only the ‘agent’ option is open for registration as at the time of this report.

How to create an account as an agent

To create an agent account, you are required to input your declarant code – this is a code registered with NCS to work as an agent on the trade portal platform for single goods declaration (SGD).

For the next process, you will be asked to input your first name, agent declarant code, address, mobile number, email, tax identification number (TIN), and password.

When this is completed, a confirmation message is sent to your email for verification so as to fully access your dashboard which provides an option to register a single or multiple VINs.

Once a VIN is registered, it will show the brand, model and year (manufactured date) of your vehicle; at this point, it is required that you input the consignee’s (vehicle’s owner or importer) TIN before proceeding to payment.

A successful payment automatically generates the VREG e-receipt, containing quick links for viewing and downloading the VREG certificate.

It will also give you a rundown of your vehicle details such as full/robust specifications; vehicle history summary; market value; and title, theft, and junk/salvage/insurance records.