Used car imports hit N250bn despite crackdown

Nigeria’s importation of used vehicles rose by 91.92 per cent to N249.84bn in the first quarter of 2026, amid the Federal Government’s intensified efforts to tighten controls on vehicle imports through a new mandatory certification regime. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics’ Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics for Q1 2026 showed that Nigeria imported used vehicles with diesel or semi-diesel engines of cylinder capacity above 2,500cc valued at N249.84bn during the review period, up from N113.36bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025. Sunday PUNCH found that the United States remained Nigeria’s dominant source of used vehicle imports, accounting for N217.56bn worth of vehicles in Q1 2026, representing about 87.1 per cent of the total value imported during the period. Other major sources were the United Arab Emirates with N10.32bn, Canada with N8.72bn, Italy with N6.64bn, and China with N6.60bn. A comparison with the first quarter of 2025 showed that imports from the United States surged by 132.67 per cent, from N93.51bn to N217.56bn, while imports from the United Arab Emirates increased by 21.65 per cent, from N8.48bn to N10.32bn. Analysis of the figures further showed that the United States strengthened its dominance in Nigeria’s used vehicle market during the period. In Q1 2026, imports from the US were worth about 6.74 times the combined value of imports from all other countries, compared with 4.71 times in Q1 2025. The NBS data also showed that Nigeria’s importation of passenger motor cars under the Broad Economic Categories classification rose by 145.94 per cent year-on-year to N552.34bn in Q1 2026 from N224.58bn in Q1 2025. However, this does not specifically enumerate used vehicles, commonly known as ‘Tokunbo’ cars in Nigeria. The increase comes months after the Federal Government unveiled a stricter regulatory framework aimed at preventing the entry of substandard vehicles into the country. Related News FCT residents decry rising cost of tomatoes Ginger prices rise in Lagos, traders blame insecurity Nigerians demand affordable healthy diets as unsafe food kills 53,000 annually The PUNCH reported on March 31 that the Federal Government introduced the Standard Organisation of Nigeria-National Automotive Design and Development Council Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme, which makes certification compulsory for all imported vehicles. Speaking at a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop in Abuja, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Enoh, said the VehCAP policy had become an effective government policy. Enoh noted that the VehCAP policy takes immediate effect upon commencement, meaning all new and used vehicles entering Nigeria must obtain pre-shipment certification before being processed for import and clearance. He said, “The endorsement integrates vehicle safety into Nigeria’s economic policy framework. It aligns fiscal instruments, foreign exchange import financing, and revenue systems with safety and standards objectives. It also strengthens the long-standing work of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria and NADDC within a coordinated whole-of-government approach. “And I think that 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.” The minister of state added that any vehicle that fails to meet the stipulated requirements would be denied entry into Nigeria. Earlier in 2025, the Director-General of NADDC, Joseph Osanipin, disclosed that the Federal Government was moving to regulate vehicle importation and automobile dealers nationwide to curb the influx of accident-prone and condemned vehicles into the country. Arinze Nwafor Arinze Nwafor is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with five years of experience reporting on Nigeria’s economy, industry, data, metro, and judiciary. He focuses on highlighting growth, policy, and market challenges shaping Africa’s largest economy. Arinze’s reporting reflects practical newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a strong commitment to accurate, informative, and audience-focused journalism.