SON, NADDC Launch VehCAP To Curb Substandard Vehicle Imports

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) have officially rolled out the Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme (VehCAP) to curb the influx of substandard vehicle imports, strengthen road safety, and improve compliance across Nigeria’s automotive sector.

Unveiled at a multi-agency stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop in Abuja, the programme represents a shift from reactive enforcement to a proactive, standards-driven approach that verifies product compliance at the earliest stages of importation.

SON director-general, Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, said VehCAP, formally unveiled by the minister of state for industry, Sen. John Enoh, was developed in collaboration with NADDC to establish a more coordinated and efficient framework for assessing vehicles and automotive components before entering the Nigerian market.

“The impact of substandard products extends beyond technical deficiencies to broader implications for safety and market integrity. VehCAP ensures that only products meeting established standards are allowed into circulation,” Okeke said.

VehCAP focuses on pre-import verification, addressing compliance at the upstream stages of the import value chain rather than relying solely on post-entry enforcement. SON said this would reduce port bottlenecks, lower enforcement costs, and improve efficiency across regulatory agencies.

The programme introduces a structured conformity assessment process to ensure transparency and consistency in evaluating automotive products, including categories that have historically faced limited regulatory oversight.

It also aligns Nigeria’s automotive regulations with internationally recognised standards, supporting legitimate trade while discouraging unsafe imports.

Okeke noted that the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic agenda, which prioritises industrial revitalisation, consumer protection, and market discipline. “Clearer expectations, supported by internationally aligned practices, will promote compliance and support responsible business conduct and investment,” he said.

The programme is expected to provide consumers with safer and more reliable vehicles and components, while enabling regulators to streamline operations, improve inter-agency coordination, and enhance market surveillance. It also establishes a uniform basis for product quality assessment, eliminating inconsistencies and regulatory gaps.

However, Okeke stressed that the programme’s success depends on strong collaboration among agencies responsible for customs, ports, financial regulation, road safety, and trade enforcement. The workshop aimed to deepen inter-agency cooperation, clarify roles, and build consensus for effective implementation.

In his welcome address, the director-general of NADDC, Mr Joseph Osanipin, described the programme as “a necessary shift in how vehicles enter, operate, and ultimately impact our country,” emphasising that the presence of institutions across government, enforcement, finance, and industry underscores the initiative’s strategic importance.

He highlighted the current challenges within Nigeria’s automotive market, noting that while the country remains one of the largest automotive markets in Africa, a significant number of imported vehicles, particularly used ones, enter without proper verification of safety, emissions performance, or lifecycle history.

According to him, “Vehicles of uncertain condition are introduced into active road use, contributing to mechanical failures, increased accident severity, and the circulation of substandard components, while also disadvantaging local industry players.”

To address these concerns, he explained that VehCAP introduces a more targeted, preventive regulatory framework tailored to the automotive sector.

He said, unlike previous approaches that focused on post-arrival inspections, the new system ensures that vehicles are assessed before shipment and that compliance with automotive-specific standards is verified prior to entry into Nigeria. Certification under the programme, he continued, will now be mandatory for vehicle importation.

The NADDC director-general further explained that the Council’s role within the framework includes providing technical input on vehicle standards, supporting model verification, and ensuring alignment with national automotive development objectives.

This, he noted, positions VehCAP not only as a regulatory mechanism but also as a strategic tool for industry growth and transformation.

He further outlined the programme’s broader benefits, stating that it will strengthen road safety, promote environmental sustainability, enhance consumer protection, and restore market discipline.

By restricting the entry of substandard vehicles and rewarding compliance, the initiative is expected to create a more level playing field within the sector.

Calling on Ministries, Departments, and agencies to play an active role, he urged stakeholders to fully understand the framework, align procurement processes, and support implementation through coordinated institutional action, stressing that clear policy direction, strong institutional alignment and coordinated enforcement will be critical to the programme’s success.