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Mixed Reactions Over Nigeria’s Ban on Importation of Accidented Vehicles
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Reactions have continued to trail the decision of the federal government to stop the importation of accidented vehicles into Nigeria by car dealers and others.
On Tuesday, the government declared that it would no longer accept the importation of vehicles without prior certification, noting that it was worried at the influx of substandard automobiles into the country.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr John Enoh, said the no certification, no entry policy tagged the Standard Organisation of Nigeria–National Automotive Design and Development Council Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme was now fully implemented with immediate effect, noting that any vehicle that fails to meet the requirements would be denied entry into the country.
“I want to clarify again that this is not a proposal or a pilot. This has become government policy and takes immediate effect upon commencement,” he declared at a meeting in Abuja, stressing that vehicles coming into the nation must obtain pre-shipment certification.
“So, the endorsement integrates vehicle safety into Nigeria’s economic policy framework. It aligns fiscal instruments, foreign exchange import financing, and revenue systems with safety and standards objectives.
“It also strengthens the long-standing work of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria and NADDC within a coordinated whole-of-government approach.
“I think that with effect from the commencement of this SON-NADDC VehCAP, all new and used vehicles and automotive products entering Nigeria must obtain pre-shipment certification on that VehCAP before form M approval, before customs valuation, before power processing, before import clearance, and before market entry,” he stated.
“No vehicle or automotive product shall be imported, cleared, registered or licensed without valid certification. Any non-compliant import shall be subject to refusal of clearance, seizure, or sanctions under applicable laws,” he added.
Mr Enoh disclosed that, “We did not arrive here by accident. Too many Nigerians have died from accidents caused by vehicles that fell short of required standards. Nigeria deserves better, and this government is determined to deliver better.”
While he admitted that some Nigerians may not be able to afford new vehicles, the government cannot fold its arms and allow its citizens to die because of substandard cars.
“I think that without taking an extreme position, we must find a middle ground. There are economic challenges, there is purchasing power, and there is also the capacity of local assemblers to meet demand.
“But at the very minimum, if we adhere strictly to existing regulations, such as limits on the age of imported vehicles, our problem will not be nearly as bad as it is,” he said.
“A vehicle that is non-compliant at the federal level must not be registered at the state level. For the FCCPC, you are expected to treat VehCAP certification as a baseline for consumer protection enforcement for vehicles. State governments, because we run a federation with federal units, state governments are expected to align vehicle registration systems with VehCAP requirements. Most importantly, let me acknowledge the very profound role that was played by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, for approving the VehCAP initiative,” he warned.
While some Nigerians applaud this initiative, others believe citizens would be exploited by government officials and make the price of fairly used cars more expensive. Some dealers have been accused of bringing in accidented cars, refurbishing them and selling to unsuspecting customers at exorbitant prices.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A few passengers on a Warri-Itakpe train were feared to have died on Monday in a derailment, which affected at least four coaches. Some of the passengers were also said to have suffered some degree of injury.
This was confirmed by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in a statement today.
The unfortunate incident involved the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS), the agency stated, though it did not confirm the number of human casualties.
However, it noted that emergency response teams and relevant authorities were at the scene attending to the situation and providing necessary assistance.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirms that an incident involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) occurred today.
“Emergency response teams and relevant authorities are currently at the scene attending to the situation and providing necessary assistance,” the chief executive of the organisation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, said in the statement.
“The corporation is closely monitoring developments and a detailed statement will be issued as soon as more information becomes available,” it added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian mobility startup Shuttlers has surpassed 10 million trips on its platform and expanded its reach through an integration with Google Maps Transit in Nigeria, thereby strengthening access to public transportation information.
According to a statement on Monday, the milestones reflect the growing need for structured, shared mobility in urban Africa.
The 10-million-trip milestone coincides with Shuttlers’ 10th year of operations, marking a key point in its growth trajectory. Meanwhile, the Google Maps integration now allows users searching for transit directions on the platform to view Shuttlers’ routes and book seats directly through its system.
The partnership is expected to broaden access to reliable shared transportation options for businesses and professionals navigating major urban centres.
To achieve a Google Transit Partner status, Shuttlers aligned its data architecture, route systems, and real-time operational capabilities with Google’s partner infrastructure requirements.
Across the continent’s fastest-growing cities, formal public transport infrastructure faces significant pressure from rapid population growth, leaving millions of professionals dependent on fragmented and costly alternatives. According to the World Bank, African cities lose an estimated 2% to 5% of GDP annually to transport inefficiency.
Shuttlers currently serves 30,000 active users across more than 1,000 itineraries, operating more than 430 buses daily across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Since launching in 2016, the platform said it has maintained a 99 per cent trip completion rate and a 99.94 per cent incident-free rate across its entire journey history.
The average Shuttlers commuter saves 60 per cent to 88 per cent on transport costs compared to ride-hailing services, and reclaims 8 to 12 hours from gridlock every month. In Lagos, the average commuter loses more than 30 hours a month to gridlock.
Speaking on this achievement, chief executive and co-founder of Shuttlers, Ms Damilola Olokesusi, shared, “We are incredibly proud of our integration into the Google Maps Transit system. This, alongside hitting 10 million journeys since launch, is a reflection of years of hard work. For millions of professionals, commuting is still unpredictable, exhausting and expensive.”
“We have spent the last 10 years building technology and operational infrastructure that makes daily transportation more dependable – for commuters, businesses that employ them, and the fleet operators who power our network,” she added.
On his part, Mr Olumide Balogun, Director for West Africa at Google, said: “We are pleased to welcome Shuttlers into the Google Transit ecosystem in Nigeria. Reliable transit information helps people navigate cities more confidently and efficiently. As more Nigerians adopt digital tools for everyday mobility, integrations like these help make trusted transportation easier to discover and access.”
Reiterated its commitment to sustainability, Shutters also disclosed that it is actively integrating Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric buses into its fleet, reducing emissions by up to 60 per cent compared to traditional diesel alternatives.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Top drivers of a global mobility and urban services platform, inDrive, in Lagos and Abuja were recently rewarded with fuel and shopping vouchers worth N30 million through its Driver Rewards Campaign.
The promo was created by the company in response to rising fuel costs and increasing operational expenses. It is providing meaningful support to its driver community through this initiative, while celebrating their commitment and hard work for keeping Nigeria’s major cities moving every day.
The campaign, which started in March and will end in June 2026, involves distributing vouchers worth N30,000 each to 1,000 eligible drivers through a series of live raffle draws on inDrive’s digital platforms. This effort is designed to acknowledge and reward the most active drivers on the platform for their unwavering dedication and commitment to providing high-quality service to passengers.
The Country Lead for inDrive Nigeria, Mr Timothy Oladimeji, noted that the initiative underscores the organisation’s ongoing commitment to driver welfare and its mission to foster equitable opportunities within the mobility ecosystem.
Mr Oladimeji explained that the Driver Rewards Campaign is designed to ease some financial burdens while encouraging and celebrating drivers’ resilience, professionalism, and dedication to service.
“At inDrive, we understand the realities drivers face every day, especially as rising fuel prices continue to put pressure on their earnings. Our drivers are the backbone of our platform, and this campaign is our way of recognising their dedication and supporting them meaningfully.
“Through these rewards, we want to show that inDrive stands with drivers, values their contribution and remains committed to creating a fairer and more rewarding mobility ecosystem,” he said.
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