Nigeria Activates End-of-life Policy To Curb Unsafe Vehicle Imports

Nigeria will roll out a nationwide End-of-life Vehicle (ELV) Scheme in 2026 and tighten rules on imported cars, a sweeping reform aimed at removing unsafe vehicles from the roads, boosting local auto manufacturing, and protecting consumers and the environment.

The initiative, announced by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), represents a significant shift in how vehicles are imported, used, dismantled, and recycled in Africa’s largest economy.

NADDC director-general Joseph Osanipin, disclosed the plan over the weekend, describing it as a full lifecycle policy that will hold importers, manufacturers, and vehicle owners accountable.

“This is a complete overhaul of vehicle imports, usage, and recycling in Nigeria,” Osanipin said, urging the media to help build public awareness ahead of the 2026 rollout. He warned that resistance was likely without sustained public education.

“You can’t light a lamp and hide it under a basket. We will need your support in 2026 as we roll out policies that some people will naturally push back against,” he stated.

Osanipin stated that all regulatory approvals for the scheme had been secured and that the framework is based on global best practices. Under the policy, vehicle owners will pay a modest registration fee to fund structured disposal and recycling, helping to eliminate abandoned vehicles and formalise Nigeria’s largely informal second-hand auto parts market.

“Over 85 per cent of components in end-of-life vehicles are still reusable. This scheme will create jobs, stimulate economic activity, and significantly reduce environmental damage,” he said.

According to him, as part of the reforms, all imported used vehicles will be subjected to mandatory testing and certification, shifting liability from consumers to importers.

“Many Nigerians only discover months after purchase that their ‘tokunbo’ vehicles are defective. That will end. Importers will now be held responsible,” Osanipin said.

He further stated that manufacturers will also be required to assume responsibility for vehicles throughout their lifecycle, in line with international standards.

“You cannot manufacture a car and disappear. This is a global practice, and we will enforce it in Nigeria,” he said.

Beyond vehicle regulation, Osanipin said NADDC is also pushing for the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) to be enacted into law, a move he said is critical to attracting long-term, billion-dollar investments into Nigeria’s automotive sector.