The Federal Government has introduced a sweeping regulatory regime requiring all new and used vehicles imported into Nigeria to obtain pre-shipment certification before entry, marking a fundamental shift from post-arrival inspection to preventive verification. The policy, designated the Standards Organisation of Nigeria–National Automotive Design and Development Council Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme (SON-NADDC VehCAP), establishes a strict “no certification, no entry” rule that takes immediate effect across all ports of entry .
Speaking at a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, emphasised that the programme is now a full government policy rather than a pilot initiative. “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,” he stated . Under the new framework, all vehicles must obtain pre-shipment certification before they can be processed for Form M approval, customs valuation, import clearance, or market entry .
Enoh outlined the enforcement architecture spanning multiple government agencies. The Nigeria Customs Service is mandated to block uncertified vehicles from clearance, while the Central Bank of Nigeria must condition import financing instruments on valid certification. The Federal Road Safety Corps will integrate certification into vehicle registration systems, and state governments are expected to align their registration frameworks to prevent non-compliant vehicles from being licensed . “No vehicle or automotive product shall be imported, cleared, registered or licensed without valid VehCAP certification,” the minister warned, adding that non-compliant imports would face refusal of clearance, seizure, or sanctions under applicable laws .
The policy addresses longstanding concerns about the influx of substandard vehicles into Nigeria’s automotive market, one of Africa’s largest. Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), noted that a significant proportion of imported vehicles, particularly used ones, enter without adequate verification of structural integrity, safety condition, emissions performance, or lifecycle history . “Once a substandard vehicle enters the country, the cost of control, both economic and human, becomes significantly higher,” he said, explaining that VehCAP shifts the system from “inspect after arrival” to “verify before entry” .
The programme builds on the existing SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP), which mandates pre-shipment verification for regulated products including automotive goods, but introduces a sector-specific framework tailored to the complexities of the automotive industry . Under VehCAP, vehicles will be assessed and certified in their country of export before shipment, addressing gaps that previously allowed poorly verified vehicles to enter Nigerian roads .
From an economic and regulatory perspective, the initiative carries significant implications for Nigeria’s import-dependent automotive market. The government has resisted calls to ban used vehicle imports entirely, acknowledging economic constraints and consumer purchasing power. “I think that without taking an extreme position, we must find a middle ground,” Enoh said, noting that strict enforcement of existing age limits on imported vehicles could address many concerns without eliminating the used vehicle market . The minister also linked the initiative to President Bola Tinubu’s industrialisation agenda, framing it as part of broader efforts to improve product standards, protect consumers, and support local automotive assembly .
SON Director-General Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke described VehCAP as a major step in strengthening regulatory oversight through a preventive, standards-driven system. “The programme introduces a more structured process that addresses compliance at the earliest stages of the import value chain. This approach enhances efficiency, reduces the burden of post-entry enforcement, and strengthens the overall integrity of the system,” he said . The initiative is expected to improve road safety, reduce environmental risks from poorly regulated emissions, protect consumers from defective vehicles, and create a more competitive environment for domestic automotive assembly .
The policy’s success will depend on coordinated implementation across federal and state agencies. Enoh stressed that effective enforcement requires the Nigeria Customs Service to detain or re-export non-compliant consignments, the CBN to link foreign exchange approvals to certification, and the FRSC to integrate VehCAP into vehicle registration nationwide . As the programme takes effect, importers, clearing agents, and automotive dealers face a transition to the new compliance regime, with the government maintaining that the long-term benefits of safer roads and higher vehicle standards outweigh short-term adjustment costs.
