FG bans import of vehicles without certification

The Federal Government has unveiled a new regulatory regime that bars all imported vehicles from entering Nigeria without prior certification, in a move aimed at improving road safety and curbing the influx of substandard automobiles.

The policy, officially named the Standard Organisation of Nigeria–National Automotive Design and Development Council Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme (SON-NADDC VehCAP), introduces a strict “no certification, no entry” rule for all new and used vehicles imported into the country.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh, said the programme is now a full government policy and not a pilot scheme.

“I want to clarify again that this is not a proposal or a pilot. This has become government policy and takes immediate effect upon commencement,” Enoh said.

Under the new regime, all vehicles must obtain pre‑shipment certification before they can be processed for importation. The certification is required before Form M approval, customs valuation, port processing, import clearance, and market entry.

“The endorsement integrates vehicle safety into Nigeria’s economic policy framework. It aligns fiscal instruments, foreign exchange import financing, and revenue systems with safety and standards objectives,” Enoh explained.

He stressed that any vehicle failing to meet the requirements would be denied entry. “No vehicle or automotive product shall be imported, cleared, registered or licensed without valid certification. Any non‑compliant import shall be subject to refusal of clearance, seizure, or sanctions under applicable laws,” he added.

The minister acknowledged concerns about a potential ban on used vehicles, popularly known as “Tokunbo,” and called for a balanced approach.

“I think that without taking an extreme position, we must find a middle ground. There are economic challenges, there is purchasing power, and there is also the capacity of local assemblers to meet demand,” he said. “But at the very minimum, if we adhere strictly to existing regulations, such as limits on the age of imported vehicles, our problem will not be nearly as bad as it is.”

Enoh described the programme as a response to rising road accidents linked to substandard vehicles. “We did not arrive here by accident. Too many Nigerians have died from accidents caused by vehicles that fell short of required standards. Nigeria deserves better, and this government is determined to deliver better,” he said.

Implementation of the policy will involve multiple agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Ports Authority, and state governments. The Customs Service will ensure no vehicle is cleared without certification, while the CBN will align foreign exchange approvals with compliance requirements. The FRSC will integrate certification into vehicle registration and enforcement, and state governments are expected to align their registration systems with the new requirements.

Earlier, the Director‑General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Joseph Osanipin, said the programme represents a shift from post‑import inspection to pre‑entry verification.

“VehCAP shifts our system from ‘inspect after arrival’ to ‘verify before entry.’ Once a substandard vehicle enters the country, the cost of control, both economic and human, becomes significantly higher,” he said.

He noted that Nigeria’s automotive market, one of the largest in Africa, has long been challenged by the influx of poorly verified used vehicles, leading to mechanical failures and increased accident severity.

The Director‑General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, said the initiative would strengthen regulatory oversight and improve consumer protection.

“The programme introduces a more structured, preventive, and standards‑driven approach. It ensures that only products that meet established requirements are allowed into circulation,” Okeke said.

The VehCAP programme builds on the existing SON Conformity Assessment Programme but introduces a sector‑specific framework tailored to the automotive industry. Under the new system, vehicles will be assessed and certified in their country of export before shipment to Nigeria.

The government maintained that the success of the initiative would depend on strong inter‑agency collaboration and strict enforcement, as it seeks to sanitise Nigeria’s vehicle import system and align it with global best practices.