Abuja – Federal Government don announce plan to cash in on Nigeria informal motor recycling market, as dem project say country fit make more than ₦150 billion every year from 2026, when compulsory vehicle recycling fee go start.
National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) talk this one for statement wey dem release on Sunday.
Director-General of the council, Joseph Osanipin, say the plan go run through fully approved End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) programme.
According to Osanipin, the new policy go organise how old and worn-out motors dey recycled, instead of make dem dey abandoned for roadside, cause safety and environmental wahala.
For him words, “For developed countries, when you buy new motor and register am, you go pay small money wey go cover how dem go take dispose the motor when e don old. Somebody must take responsibility.”
He say Nigeria go follow same pattern, as motorists go pay small recycling fee during vehicle registration, to support clean and proper disposal. Though e admit say people fit complain at first, but say the long-term benefit big well well.
Osanipin explain say Nigeria already get strong informal spare parts market, popularly called Belgian parts, and studies show say over 85 per cent of parts from old motors still dey usable or recyclable.
“Instead make people dump motor for roadside, dem fit turn am in and still make money. This circular economy go worth billions of naira every year if dem manage am well,” he talk.
Apart from revenue, he say the programme go create thousands of jobs for dismantling, repairs, logistics and spare parts business.
The announcement come as Nigeria motor import market dey recover. Recent data show say passenger motor car imports reach about ₦1.01 trillion for first nine months of 2025, from ₦894bn same period last year.
Osanipin also announce say from 2026, government go introduce mandatory pre-export certification for all fairly-used motors coming into Nigeria, to stop exporters from dumping scrap vehicles inside the country.
He say Nigeria na one of few African countries wey never get such rule before, and some foreign exporters dey use that take advantage.
“One exporter even tell me say dem ship eight containers of end-of-life motors to Nigeria because na here dem dey make highest profit,” Osanipin reveal.
He add say na exporters go pay for the certification, not Nigerian buyers.
As part of long-term reforms, NADDC also dey plan to convert petrol and diesel motors to electric vehicles (EVs) and compressed natural gas (CNG). Training programmes for EV maintenance and vehicle conversion don already start.
Osanipin say Nigeria engineers and students dey already design tricycles, buses and electric campus shuttle buses with universities and private partners.
He stress say real money for auto industry dey component manufacturing, like tyres, batteries, brake pads and filters, wey Nigeria dey spend more money on pass complete vehicle imports.
Finally, he reveal say government wan turn the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) into law, as Auto Industry Bill go soon reach National Assembly.
“Investment for auto sector big. Dem need Act to protect am,” Osanipin talk, as he call 2026 a turning point for Nigeria automotive industry.
