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Supercars for Less: The Online Marketplace Making Luxury Rides Accessible
Supercars, often called sports cars in Nigeria, are rapidly gaining popularity among a select group of customers. This growing interest stems from their appealing design, powerful performance, and the significant prestige they represent as symbols of wealth and success. While track-day experiences are reserved for a privileged few, the desire for these luxury vehicles is increasingly strong in the Nigerian market.
But what if you could get the thrill of a high-performance machine without the multi-million Naira price tag?
That’s exactly what Chris Slix, an ingenious car enthusiast, set out to prove. Like many, Chris harboured a dream of owning a McLaren, but faced the harsh reality of its prohibitive cost, even a used model. Adding to the challenge, some exclusive car brands have stringent purchase history requirements, effectively shutting out new buyers, regardless of their financial standing.
Undeterred, Chris set out to prove that with ingenuity and smart sourcing, the supercar dream could be achieved for less than one-tenth of the cost — and he did it with the help of Temu. A recent IPSOS survey found that 80% of respondents globally believe Temu offers value for money, with shoppers reporting average savings of 24%. More than half said they would recommend the platform to others, underscoring its growing reputation as a go-to destination for smart, savvy shopping.
Chris realised that most limited edition McLarens share parts with the base-model cars of the brand. So, he took one of McLaren’s most affordable cars and DIYed it into a premium version with budget parts from Temu. While the original car costs nearly N831 million and buying branded parts is equally exorbitant, Chris was able to buy the parts for around N52 million.
Image credits: @Chris Slix on YouTube
“I had four criteria when I was hunting for pieces – harder, better, faster, stronger; five, if you count ‘cheaper’.
His purchase was a made-to-order McLaren 650s – 675LT Full Dry-Carbon Conversion Kit, which formed the body of the car and gave it the look and feel of a dream car. It is this body and the unique tangerine paint that set the car apart from other McLarens and made it look truly premium and unique.
“The product arrived in a massive box and was completely worth the wait and the excitement. The piece itself was very well-made with no imperfections at all!”
Image credits: @Chris Slix on YouTube
The final product, with the body, paint, and parts, was truly a beauty, to the point that nobody would have been able to tell that this cost less than a quarter of the original car. Looks like you really don’t have to be a billionaire to shop like one; or for that matter, even drive like one.
For Nigerian car enthusiasts, it’s a clear signal: you don’t need a multi-million Naira budget or exclusive brand connections to pursue your ultimate automotive vision. With the right research, a bit of DIY spirit, and the unparalleled value offered on platforms like Temu, creating your own version of a dream car is now more within reach than ever before.
By Dipo Olowookere
Residents and motorists plying the Aina Obembe Road in Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos, may soon heave a sigh of relief as the excruciating traffic gridlock being experienced in the area both day and night may soon be a thing of the past.
This is because the chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, Mr Lukmon Agbaje, has directed those involved in indiscriminate truck parking along the road to remove the heavy-duty vehicles within one week, threatening to invoke appropriate enforcement measures for noncompliance with this directive.
Speaking during a meeting on Wednesday with the management of SENA Company, which owns the affected trucks, as well as the leadership of Oluwadara CDA and other key stakeholders like the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), at the council’s secretariat, Mr Agbaje frowned at the prolonged inconvenience suffered by the community, stressing that public roads must remain accessible and safe for all users.
He emphasised the need for a collaborative approach in resolving the issue without undermining legitimate business operations, noting that he’s focused on finding a lasting solution to the gridlock experienced between Oluwaga and Aina Obembe, where parked trucks have continued to obstruct traffic, disrupt business activities, and pose safety concerns for residents and motorists.
He tasked the firm and the CDA to jointly identify and implement alternative parking arrangements that would remove all trucks from the affected roads and restore the free flow of traffic.
He declared that, “The welfare of our people remains our highest priority. No individual or corporate organisation should obstruct public infrastructure or create avoidable hardship for residents. We must ensure that economic activities coexist with public safety, order, and convenience.”
The council chief reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting orderly development, ensuring safe and accessible roads, improving traffic management, and creating an environment where businesses can thrive alongside the well-being of residents.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has cut import levies on new and used vehicles by as much as 10 per cent in a move aimed at reducing the cost of vehicle importation, even as it commenced the implementation of a new Green Tax surcharge.
According to an update issued by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday, the import levy on new vehicles has been reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while the levy on used vehicles has been slashed from 15 per cent to five per cent under the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures, which took effect on July 1, 2026.
The customs said the policy is designed to ease the cost of vehicle imports while advancing the government’s environmental sustainability objectives through the newly introduced Green Tax.
The implementation also reduces the overall import duty on fully built passenger vehicles from 70 per cent to 40 per cent.
As part of the Green Tax framework, a new environmental surcharge of between two per cent and four per cent will apply to petrol-powered vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 2,000cc. However, mass transit buses, electric vehicles, and passenger cars with engines below 2,000cc are exempt from the surcharge.
Beyond the automobile sector, the fiscal measures also lower import duties on several essential goods. The duty on imported rice has been reduced from 70 per cent to 47.5 per cent, while crude palm oil now attracts a 28.75 per cent duty.
In addition, import duties on agricultural and manufacturing machinery have been completely removed to support local production, while Waste PET has been added to the export prohibition list to encourage domestic recycling.
By Dipo Olowookere
Plans are underway to carry out a comprehensive data capture and registration exercise of all commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators within Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA.
This move, according to the council chairman, Mr Lukmon Agbaje, is part of proactive measures to strengthen the security of lives and property across the Local Council Development Area (LCDA). The exercise, he said, would be executed in partnership with security agencies and transport unions.
On Tuesday, the council chief convened a high-level security meeting with leaders of commercial transport unions and key security stakeholders operating within the area.
Mr Agbaje expressed concern over the increasing influx of commercial motorcycle (Okada) and tricycle (Keke) operators into the LCDA without proper documentation or profiling.
According to him, the absence of reliable records poses significant security challenges and could provide opportunities for criminal elements to infiltrate communities under the guise of commercial transportation.
He stressed that security is best achieved through preventive measures, noting that effective profiling and documentation remain essential tools in safeguarding residents and protecting the council from emerging security threats.
Mr Agbaje disclosed that under the new security framework, all Okada and Keke parks and operational locations across the LCDA would be officially documented, adding that every duly verified operator would receive an official identification jacket bearing a unique coded number to facilitate easy identification and monitoring.
He also said a mandatory guarantor system will be introduced to strengthen accountability, ensuring that every registered rider has a verifiable guarantor who can be contacted whenever necessary.
The chairman noted that these measures are designed not only to improve security coordination but also to protect law-abiding commercial operators and discourage criminal activities within the council.
Leaders of the various transport unions welcomed the initiative, noting that proper documentation will distinguish genuine operators from criminal elements, enhance public confidence, and promote a safer working environment for commercial transporters.
Also, the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of Ayobo and Ipaja Commands commended the initiative, describing it as a timely and commendable step towards strengthening community policing. They reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to working closely with the council to ensure full compliance and sustain peace and public order.
