The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a ban on the importation of vehicles without proper certification, signaling a major shift toward stricter regulatory control in the automotive sector.

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh, disclosed the development on Tuesday at an event organized by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).

Enoh explained that the directive forms part of the government’s policy framework under the Standard Organisation of Nigeria–National Automotive Design and Development Council Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme (VCAP).

Under the new policy, all vehicles—both new and used—must comply with a mandatory “no certification, no entry” requirement. This means that vehicles must obtain pre-shipment certification in their country of export before they can be approved for importation into Nigeria.

He emphasized that the directive is not a pilot initiative but a fully adopted policy that will take effect immediately upon implementation.

“No vehicle or automotive product shall be imported, cleared, registered, or licensed without valid certification,” the minister stated.

Enoh further warned that any vehicle failing to meet the certification requirements would be denied clearance and could be subject to seizure or other penalties in accordance with existing laws.

The move is expected to strengthen quality control, enhance road safety, and regulate the influx of substandard vehicles into the country.