Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC, in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has launched the Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme, VehCAP, a strategic initiative aimed at improving vehicle safety, environmental compliance, and the overall quality of vehicles entering Nigeria.
The programme responds to growing concerns over the importation of used vehicles without proper verification of safety, structural integrity, emissions performance, and lifecycle history—factors that contribute to road accidents, environmental risks, and unfair competition within the automotive sector.
During the official launch of the VehCAP initiative in Abuja, the Minister of State for Industry, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, described the initiative as a testament to the power of collaboration between the two key institutions—NADDC and SON.
He expressed appreciation to the President for enabling the initiative and commended the administration’s commitment to industrialising Nigeria and protecting citizens from substandard goods.
He stated that VehCAP was a strategic national policy aimed at improving road safety, enhancing regulatory enforcement, and protecting Nigerians from unsafe automotive products.
The Minister further highlighted that the programme integrates vehicle safety into Nigeria’s broader economic policy framework, including fiscal instruments, foreign exchange management, import financing, and vehicle renewal systems, all aligned with safety and standardisation objectives.
He emphasised that with the commencement of the SON–NADDC VehCAP, all new and used vehicles, as well as automotive products entering Nigeria, must obtain Shipment Certification under VehCAP prior to approval processes, including customs valuation, port processing, import clearance, and eventual market entry.
He warned that non-compliant imports would face strict enforcement measures, including denial of clearance and possible seizure.
In his congratulatory remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, commended the initiative and urged stakeholders to comply with its provisions. He assured participants of his full support, noting that the success of the programme would depend on strong collaboration among regulatory and enforcement agencies.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Industry, Enitan Dolapo-Badru, praised the efforts of SON and NADDC in actualising the programme and called for sustained collaboration among all relevant agencies to ensure its success.
The Permanent Secretary of FMITI, Dr. Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanwem, who was represented by Mrs. Olumuyiwa Ajayi-Ade, Director II, Industrial Development Department, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to enforcing compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards for all vehicles in Nigeria.
In his opening remarks, the Director-General/Chief Executive of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, described the programme as a structured and preventive mechanism designed to ensure that only compliant vehicles and automotive products are allowed into circulation.
According to him, VehCAP builds on existing conformity assessment systems while introducing a sector-specific approach tailored to the complexity of vehicles, aligning with national priorities on industrial growth, consumer protection, and safety.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NADDC, Mr. Joseph Osanipin, said the initiative represents a critical shift in Nigeria’s vehicle regulation system. He noted that the country has long grappled with the importation of vehicles lacking proper verification of safety, emissions performance, and lifecycle history, particularly within the used vehicle segment.
Osanipin explained that VehCAP introduces a proactive framework based on pre-shipment verification, effectively shifting regulatory focus from post-arrival inspections to certification before entry into the Nigerian market.
“This is not just another regulatory intervention. It is a necessary shift in how vehicles enter and operate within our system,” he said, adding that substandard vehicles already in circulation contribute to road accidents, environmental concerns, and unfair market practices.
Under the initiative, NADDC will provide technical oversight, including vehicle classification, model verification, and alignment with national automotive policies, ensuring the programme supports both regulation and industry development.
An overview of the SON–NADDC VehCAP Programme was presented by Engr. Olalekan Omoniyi, Deputy Director at SON, who highlighted the scope, certification process, key certificates, and benefits of the initiative to stakeholders under the theme “SON–NADDC VehCAP: Certified Automotive Products, Safer Nigerian Roads.”
Goodwill messages were given by representatives of FRSC, NESREA, FMITI amongst others.
The event also featured a panel discussion themed “Driving Nigeria’s Automotive Future: Policy, Standards, and Market Integrity,” where stakeholders deliberated on key issues including inter-agency collaboration, import regulation, financing, environmental compliance, and road safety.
Panelists included Mr. Dalhatu Muhammed Kamal, Director of Tax Policy representing the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Assistant Comptroller Joseph Atile of the Nigeria Customs Service; Corps Commander Kunle Oguntoyinbo of the Federal Road Safety Corps; Dr. A. Ibrahim of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency; and Engr. Olalekan Omoniyi of SON. The session was moderated by Engr. Yahya Bukar.
The session transitioned into a programme of Question and Answer where stakeholders raised several pertinent issues regarding the programme’s execution and long term sustainability.
Engr. Omoniyi addressed concerns regarding potential inter agency friction by clarifying that roles are strictly delineated according to the statutory functions of each organisation’s establishing Act, ensuring that no agency’s responsibilities overlap with another.
The dialogue further explored the transition from linear import models characterized by a “take-make-dispose” lifecycle to a circular economy framework. This strategic shift, promoted through the SON-NADDC partnership, emphasizes stricter standards to prevent the abuse of vehicles beyond their intended capacity and the implementation of measures to ensure vehicles are maintained and recycled within the national ecosystem.
By prioritizing the quality of imports and the recovery of automotive components, the programme aims to curb the influx of substandard vehicles while fostering a sustainable domestic automotive industry.
A major highlight of the workshop was the official unveiling of the SON–NADDCVehCAP Certification Logo by the Minister of State for Industry, alongside the Director-Generals of SON and NADDC, symbolising the formal commencement of the programme.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mrs. Talatu Ethan, Director of Corporate Affairs at SON, who expressed appreciation to the Minister of State, the leadership of SON and NADDC, representatives of participating agencies, panelists, and members of the Project Management Committee, as well as the consultant and project implementation team.
She reaffirmed that the successful implementation of the VehCAP programme would deliver significant benefits to all Nigerians by ensuring safer roads, improved environmental standards, and a more regulated automotive market.
