The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to rein in the influx of imported used vehicles into Nigeria, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen local automobile manufacturing and improve the quality and safety of vehicles on the nation’s roads.
This policy direction was reinforced at the 18th edition of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards, held recently in Lagos, where senior government officials outlined plans to reshape Nigeria’s automotive landscape.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, said government policies are now clearly aimed at reducing the country’s long-standing dependence on used vehicle imports.
According to Osanipin, the NADDC is intensifying regulatory measures to ensure that only quality vehicles are permitted into the country, while laying the groundwork for the gradual phasing out of used vehicle imports. He explained that the approach is designed to stimulate local vehicle assembly, deepen industrial capacity and drive job creation.
A central element of the government’s strategy is the long-awaited National Auto Industry Development Policy (NAIDP), which Osanipin said is now being prepared for submission to the National Assembly. He disclosed that the council is targeting the passage of the auto policy into law by the second quarter of 2026.
“We remain committed to policies and programmes that strengthen local manufacturing,” he said. “By the second quarter of 2026, one of our key deliverables is the enactment of the Auto Policy. We are ready to engage the National Assembly and all relevant stakeholders, especially during the public hearing process.”
Osanipin noted that the clampdown on used vehicles is aligned with the recently introduced End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Recycling Regulation, launched in March 2025. He said the regulation is aimed at promoting a circular economy by formalising the recycling and repurposing of old vehicles, while also enhancing environmental sustainability, road safety and employment opportunities.
The government’s automotive reform drive has also been bolstered by the approval of the Nigeria Industry Policy (NIP) by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), a move widely seen as laying the foundation for the eventual enactment of the NAIDP.
This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, who spoke through Osanipin at the event. According to the minister, the NIP provides a clear and coherent framework for Nigeria’s industrial development, with the automotive sector identified as a strategic priority.
“The Nigeria Industry Policy has been approved by the FEC, and it will guide Nigeria’s industrial development going forward,” he said. “The next critical step is the passage of the Auto Policy into law. These are deliberate actions to ensure that the automotive sector receives the attention and priority it deserves.”
Osanipin also commended the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association for its consistency in promoting excellence and accountability within the automotive sector, describing the annual awards as a key platform for stakeholder engagement and industry growth.
With the combination of a newly approved industrial policy and renewed legislative push for the auto industry framework, analysts say the Federal Government’s move to restrain imported used vehicles signals a decisive shift towards building a sustainable, locally driven automotive industry in Nigeria.