The Federal Government has introduced a strict new rule that no vehicle—new or used—can be imported into Nigeria without passing certification before shipment, under a policy known as the Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme (VehCAP).
The policy marks a major shift in how vehicles enter the country, moving from checks carried out after arrival to mandatory verification before shipment. Under this system, any vehicle that fails to meet Nigeria’s safety and quality standards will not be allowed into the country at all.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop in Abuja, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh, made it clear that the policy is no longer under consideration but has become a full government directive.
“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 said.
The new rule introduces what officials describe as a firm “no certification, no entry” regime. This means that all imported vehicles must first undergo and pass pre-shipment certification in their country of export before they can even begin the import process into Nigeria.
Enoh explained that the requirement cuts across every stage of vehicle importation, making certification a central condition for entry into the Nigerian market.
“With effect from the commencement of this SON-NADDC VehCAP, all new and used vehicles and automotive products entering Nigeria must obtain pre-shipment certification on that VehCAP before Form M approval, before customs valuation, before PAAR processing, before import clearance, and before market entry,” he stated.
This effectively blocks uncertified vehicles at every checkpoint—from financing and documentation to clearance at ports and eventual registration.
The Federal Government said the move is designed to address longstanding concerns about the influx of substandard vehicles into Nigeria, many of which have been linked to road accidents, mechanical failures, and poor environmental performance.
Enoh stressed that the policy will be strictly enforced, with penalties for non-compliance.
“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 warned.
The introduction of VehCAP signals a coordinated effort by multiple government agencies to tighten control over vehicle importation. Key institutions involved in the enforcement include the Nigeria Customs Service, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Nigerian Ports Authority.
According to the minister, each agency has a defined role in ensuring compliance with the new rule. The Nigeria Customs Service will prevent any vehicle without valid certification from being cleared at the ports, while the Central Bank of Nigeria will align foreign exchange approvals with compliance requirements.
“For Customs, no vehicle should proceed to clearance without a valid certificate. Non-compliant consignments must be detained or re-exported.
“For the CBN, import financing instruments must be conditional on valid certification. These institutions control both the physical and financial gateways of importation,” he said.
The Federal Road Safety Corps will integrate certification into vehicle registration and enforcement systems, ensuring that only compliant vehicles are allowed on Nigerian roads. State governments are also expected to align their vehicle registration processes with the new requirements.
“A vehicle that is non-compliant at the federal level must not be registered at the state level,” Enoh stated, emphasising the need for coordination across all levels of government.
The policy also extends to consumer protection enforcement. Regulatory bodies are expected to treat VehCAP certification as a baseline requirement before any vehicle can be sold or used within the country.
Officials say the new framework represents a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s automotive regulatory approach. Instead of attempting to control substandard vehicles after they have already entered the country, the government is now focusing on preventing them from entering in the first place.
The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Joseph Osanipin, described the change as both necessary and overdue.
“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 has for years been affected by poorly verified imports, especially used vehicles, which often arrive without proper checks on safety condition, emissions performance, or lifecycle history.
“Many vehicles enter without adequate checks on safety condition, emissions performance, and lifecycle history. This has led to mechanical failures, increased accident severity, and circulation of substandard components,” Osanipin added.
The government believes that enforcing certification before shipment will significantly reduce these risks by ensuring that only vehicles that meet established standards are allowed into the country.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria also highlighted the broader regulatory impact of the new policy. Its Director-General, Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, said the initiative introduces a more structured and preventive system.
“The programme introduces a more structured, preventive, and standards-driven approach. It ensures that only products that meet established requirements are allowed into circulation,” he said.
Okeke added that the policy will improve transparency in the automotive market, promote fair competition, and support local industry development by creating a more level playing field.
While the new rule applies to all vehicles, the government acknowledged concerns about its potential impact on Nigerians who rely on imported used vehicles, commonly known as “Tokunbo.”
Enoh said the government is aware of the economic realities facing citizens and is not taking an extreme position on banning used vehicles outright.
“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.
However, he maintained that enforcing existing regulations—such as limits on the age of imported vehicles—alongside the new certification requirement would significantly improve the quality of vehicles in the country.
The minister linked the introduction of VehCAP to the government’s broader efforts to improve safety standards and protect Nigerian consumers. He noted that many lives have been lost due to accidents involving vehicles that did not meet required standards.
“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.
He urged Nigerians to see the policy as a necessary intervention rather than an added burden, stressing that its primary goal is to save lives and improve the overall quality of vehicles on Nigerian roads.
“As we launch this programme today, it’s important that people are concerned more with the safety necessity and with what it attempts to kill than with how much economic hurt it brings to the citizenry,” Enoh said.
The policy is also tied to the Federal Government’s industrialisation agenda, with officials noting that improved standards could encourage local vehicle assembly and reduce reliance on low-quality imports.
VehCAP builds on the existing Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme but introduces a more focused framework tailored specifically to the automotive sector. Under the new system, vehicles will be inspected and certified in their country of export before shipment to Nigeria.
By making certification a mandatory precondition for importation, the government aims to close gaps that previously allowed substandard vehicles to enter the country and circulate in the market.
The success of the initiative, officials say, will depend on strict enforcement and collaboration among all relevant agencies. The government has made it clear that there will be no exemptions, and that compliance will be required at every stage of the importation process.
With the introduction of the “no certification, no entry” rule, Nigeria is taking a decisive step towards tightening control over its vehicle import system and aligning it with international best practices.
