New Pre-Shipment Inspection Regime to Halt Inflow of Accidented Vehicles into Nigeria
The Nigerian government has introduced a new pre-shipment inspection regime aimed at preventing the influx of accidented and substandard vehicles into the country. This policy, which includes a strict “no certification, no entry” rule, is expected to significantly impact the automotive importation sector. The initiative is part of broader efforts to improve road safety and ensure that only vehicles meeting certain quality standards are allowed into Nigeria.
Government’s Objective: Enhancing Road Safety
The National President of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), Prince Ajibola Adedoyin, confirmed that dealers are engaging with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) regarding the implementation of the policy. According to Adedoyin, the NADDC will be responsible for conducting pre-shipment inspections of imported vehicles. He emphasized that the main goal of the policy is to prevent severely damaged vehicles from entering Nigeria.
“We agree that something of this sort should be implemented so that Nigeria would not be treated like a dumping ground for every kind of vehicle,” Adedoyin said.
He also mentioned that discussions are ongoing to clarify the details of the program, including how it will be enforced and what exactly constitutes an accidented vehicle. A meeting between AMDON and NADDC is scheduled for the following week to address these concerns.
Impact on Importers and Consumers
Adedoyin further clarified that the policy, which is set to take effect from April 1, will not affect vehicles already in transit. He explained that containers already on ships will still be cleared upon arrival, as the government cannot reverse the process once vehicles are en route.
Importantly, he dismissed concerns that the policy could lead to increased vehicle prices. “The policy will not trigger a rise in vehicle prices,” he stated, adding that the cost structure for imports will remain unchanged.
The new regulation also mandates the registration of dealers, aiming to tighten control over the importation process. This comes amid growing concerns about road safety, with recent data from the Federal Road Safety Corps showing a significant increase in road crashes.
Rising Road Safety Concerns
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, total road crashes rose by 9.2% from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025. Serious crashes increased by 10.5%, reaching 6,772 cases, while minor crashes surged by 17.5%. The number of injured persons also rose by 7.2%, reaching 33,400.
The car dealers’ association believes that the new import controls could help address some of these safety challenges by eliminating structurally compromised vehicles before they enter the country.
Economic Implications of Vehicle Imports
Nigeria remains heavily dependent on imported vehicles, with Nigerians spending N4.31 trillion on passenger car imports between 2023 and 2025. While there was a decline in 2024, the figure rebounded in 2025, reaching N1.58 trillion—the highest level in the period under review.
Despite the rebound, the share of car imports in total trade has been shrinking, falling from 4.78% in 2023 to 2.34% in 2025. The United States continues to be the largest source of vehicle imports, followed by countries such as South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Industry Support for the Policy
The new certification regime has received support from industry stakeholders. Thomas Alor, Chairman of the PTML Chapter of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, described the policy as a necessary step to curb the influx of accidented cars without increasing costs for importers.
Alor noted that the primary incentive for importing accidented vehicles has always been their lower purchase price abroad, rather than any cost advantage in shipping. He added that the policy would help protect unsuspecting buyers and improve overall standards in the automobile market.
“This is a good policy,” Alor reiterated, emphasizing that it will prevent accidented cars from being sold as new ones.
Conclusion
With the new pre-shipment inspection regime in place, Nigeria aims to ensure safer roads and better-quality vehicles. While the policy has raised some concerns, industry leaders believe it will ultimately benefit consumers and improve the automotive landscape in the country.
