The Director-General of the Nigeria Automotive Design and Development Council, Joseph Osanipin, has announced the Federal Government’s move to regulate car importation and dealers nationwide.
He said this would prevent the influx of accident-prone and condemned vehicles, mostly through the country’s smuggling routes.
Osanipin made this known during a stakeholder engagement with members and executives of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria on used car import and dealership regulations in Nigeria.
The event themed ‘Import of used cars and dealership regulation in Nigeria,’ also examined the importance of promoting made-in Nigerian vehicles by dealers across the country.
Osanipin also emphasised the importance of building a robust local automotive industry as a means to conserve foreign exchange and drive economic growth.
He said, “We have started with component development because we understand that the growth of the automotive industry in Nigeria depends on strengthening the supply chain.
“We are working closely with local manufacturers to increase their production capacities to meet market demand, as no single parts manufacturer in Nigeria can currently satisfy the entire demand.”
The NADDC boss also noted that even if local production capacity improves, collaboration between all industry stakeholders is crucial, telling the dealers that “Without your cooperation, these efforts will be wasted. We are engaging with key players, including auto dealers, to ensure safety and environmental standards, and combat the illegal trade of smuggled, accidented, and outdated vehicles.”
He also called on AMDON to engage in self-regulation by reporting those tarnishing the industry’s reputation by importing outdated vehicles and endangering Nigerians’ lives.
The DG recalled that a report had shown that cars meant for scrapping had illegally made their way into Nigeria.
“We need you to understand that some vehicles are in Nigeria that are not supposed to be in this country and there is no way we can fight this battle without you. AMDON needs to self-regulate by fishing out those giving the association a bad name.
“There was a time that a report showed that cars earmarked for scrapping were bought and taken to Nigeria by Nigerians; they couldn’t get them to other countries but Nigeria, Why?”
In his address, the National President of AMDON, Ajibola Adedoyin, welcomed the regulatory move of the government, saying the association has been advocating such a move years before now.
Citing past efforts to get the dealers in the automotive sector regulated, Adedoyin explained “During the Saraki-led administration at the senate, we went to the National Assembly and requested that our sector be regulated. Most of the vehicles you find at dealers’ stands were not imported by the said dealer, They were bought and brought into the country by individuals, even civil servants.
“In a case where anyone can buy and bring in a car without having anything to do with car dealers call for attention. But if our sector is not regulated some of the menace we are currently talking about cannot be well tackled.”
