The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has revealed that in 2026 that policies would be introduced to ensure imported used vehicles are tested, accredited and certified before being allowed into Nigeria.
Director General of NADDC, Joseph Osanipin, who disclosed this in Abuja at an interactive session with newsmen at the weekend, said the policy will yield
N150billion in annual revenue for the country.
He explained that in other countries, before a vehicle is brought into a country, it has to be tested, accredited and certified.
According to him, over the years, Nigeria has not been doing such, adding that in 2026, it would be introduced to ensure quality assurance.
He added: “Currently, we are not doing that in Nigeria. We are pushing for it. We have also got approval for it, it is what other countries are doing apart from Nigeria. We are going to do it in 2026.
“We are going to hold those people that are brining these vehicles into Nigeria responsible.
“Necessary tests will be done on the vehicles. If they fail test, the vehicles will not be allowed into Nigeria.”
Osanipin urged journalists to educate Nigerians on the benefits of improved vehicle quality.
“When these policies come, there will be pushback. We need the media to explain that this will improve vehicle quality on Nigerian roads.”
“For used vehicles, we are putting policies in place to ensure they are tested, accredited and certified before entering the country,” he said.
He further expressed the readiness of the Council to introduce a comprehensive “End-of-Life Vehicle” programme as well as enforce all stringent new checks on all imported used cars beginning from 2026.
He said that the proposed reforms were critical step for environmental protection, public safety, and economic development of the country.
He explained that in developed countries, immediately someone buys a vehicle, he is
expected to make payment at the point of registering the vehicle towards its disposal when it gets to end of life,
Shedding lights on its rationale, he said: “You can’t see abandoned vehicles on the roads in developed countries. It means somebody will be responsible for their disposal.
“Most of our mechanics will tell you to buy Belguim parts when you want to buy new vehicle parts.
“Those ones they call Belgium were developed through end of life. When a vehicle gets to that end of life, its owner turns it in.
“The recycling firms will separate them and remove the second-hand parts that can be used to develop what is called second-hand markets.
“Internally, we can develop our own second-hand markets through this. The other advantage of end-of-life is that a lot of parts on the vehicle can still be recycled because we have seen that over 85per cent of parts of vehicles are still useful.
“It can generate a lot of employment. Instead abandoning a vehicle on the roadside, someone can turn in his vehicle to make something out of it. The circular economy associated with this is in the billions of naira..
“The most import reason is the environment.
“At the point of registration, people will be required to make some payment, though even small, it will go a long way in developing vehicle ecosystem.
“What it is going to contribute to Nigeria’s economy annually is about N150billion, if well-managed. We are going to do it and we are pushing for it.”