Wetin dey happen for Nigeria motor market don change today. Federal Government don drop hammer say from now, any vehicle wey dem wan bring enter Nigeria must get certification before e fit cross border. No certification, no entry. Na firm policy wey dem announce for Abuja during stakeholders workshop.
Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, yarn am clear say this one no be proposal again. E don become government policy wey go take immediate effect. Him talk say: “Make I clear am: this one no be proposal. Na government policy. Na firm directive wey dey aim to make sure standards dey and protect consumers.”
Na serious matter wey dey affect both new and tokunbo motors. The programme wey dem call SON-NADDC Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme (VehCAP) mean say all vehicles go need pre-shipment certification before dem go approve am for import. Enoh talk say any motor wey no meet the requirements go face denial of clearance. Seizure fit follow. Sanctions dey wait.
Why this sudden move? Road accidents dey worry government. Too many Nigerians don die because of substandard vehicles wey dey enter the country. The minister yarn say: “We no reach here by accident. Too many Nigerians don die from accidents wey vehicles wey fall short of required standards cause. Nigeria deserve better, and this government dey determined to deliver better.”
But make we no think say na only about accidents. Economic policy dey inside. The minister explain say the endorsement integrate vehicle safety into Nigeria economic policy framework. E align fiscal instruments, foreign exchange import financing, and revenue systems with safety and standards objectives.
Now, how e go work? Multiple agencies go dey involved. Nigeria Customs Service go make sure no vehicle get clearance without certification. Central Bank of Nigeria go align foreign exchange approvals with compliance requirements. Federal Road Safety Corps go integrate certification into vehicle registration. State governments must ensure say non-compliant vehicles no get registration.
Enoh talk say: “For Customs, no vehicle suppose proceed to clearance without valid certificate. Non-compliant consignments must be detained or re-exported. For CBN, import financing instruments must be conditional on valid certification. These institutions control both the physical and financial gateways of importation.”
Some people dey worry about tokunbo ban. The minister address that concern. Him talk say without taking extreme position, dem must find middle ground. Economic challenges dey. Purchasing power dey. Local assemblers capacity to meet demand dey. But at the very minimum, if dem adhere strictly to existing regulations like limits on age of imported vehicles, the problem no go bad like before.
Director-General of National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Oluwemimo Osanipin, yarn say Nigeria operate one of the largest automotive markets for Africa. But structure of that market present serious concern. Significant proportion of vehicles wey dey enter Nigeria—especially used vehicles—enter without adequate verification of structural integrity, safety condition, emissions performance, and lifecycle history.
Consequences dey clear. Osanipin talk say: “Vehicles of uncertain condition dey introduced into active road use; mechanical failures contribute to accident severity; substandard components circulate within the system, and our local automotive industry dey placed at disadvantage. This na the reality we must confront and decisively address.”
Him point out say while SONCAP regime wey Standards Organisation of Nigeria implement don improve quality of imported products across multiple sectors, automotive sector require more specialized approach. “Vehicles no be static products—dem be complex, high-risk systems. Their safety depend not only on how dem manufacture am, but also on how dem don use am, maintain am, and expose am over time.”
This na where VehCAP become critical. The programme introduce more targeted, sector-specific framework by ensuring say vehicles get assessed before shipment; compliance get verified against automotive-specific standards; certification become mandatory condition for entry into Nigeria.
In simple terms, VehCAP shift system from “inspect after arrival” to “verify before entry.” Because once substandard vehicle enter country, cost of control—both economic and human—become significantly higher.
Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, talk say the initiative mark significant step in strengthening regulatory oversight within Nigeria automotive sector. The move reflect deliberate shift towards more structured, preventive, and standards-driven approach to address long-standing concerns associated with quality and safety of vehicles and automotive components for our market.
Okeke yarn say: “Over time, impact of substandard and non-compliant products don extend beyond technical deficiencies to broader implications for road safety, consumer protection, and public confidence. These challenges underscore need for system wey not only respond to infractions, but proactively ensure say only products wey meet established requirements dey allowed into circulation.”
VehCAP don conceive as collaborative framework between Standards Organisation of Nigeria and National Automotive Design and Development Council. E bring together complementary regulatory mandates to deliver more coordinated and effective approach to automotive conformity assessment.
The workshop wey hold for Abuja carry theme: “Certified Automobile Products: Safer Nigerian Roads.” Aim na to sensitise MDAs to understand VehCAP framework, align their procurement processes accordingly, and support implementation through coordinated institutional action.
Minister Enoh link the initiative to industrialisation agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. E note say e align with broader efforts to improve product standards and protect consumers. Him talk say: “As Nigerians, because of circumstances wey we face, almost every move wey government make, citizens tend to misunderstand am, without looking at real essence of that.”
Him give example of product authentication and tracking systems concession agreement wey ministry sign last week. “People must appreciate wetin that concession try to kill in terms of fake and adulterated products wey don kill millions and millions of people.”
Enoh urge Nigerians not to see policy as additional burden but as necessary intervention to save lives and strengthen economy. “This no suppose dey seen as burden, but as corrective measure. For several years wey we don continue to live and exist and accommodate all of this wey suppose don controlled for first instance.”
The programme build on existing SON Conformity Assessment Programme but introduce sector-specific framework tailored to complexities of automotive industry. Under new system, vehicles go get assessed and certified for their country of export before shipment to Nigeria.
Policy dey expected to improve road safety, reduce environmental risks, protect consumers, and create more competitive environment for local automotive assembly. Government maintain say success of initiative go depend on strong inter-agency collaboration and strict enforcement.
As e stand now, the hammer don fall. Motor importers get new rules to follow. Whether e go work as planned na wetin time go tell. But one thing clear: Federal Government don show say dem serious about controlling wetin dey enter Nigeria roads. The days of anything goes for motor import don see closing chapter.
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