The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) have signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the implementation of the Vehicle Compliance Assurance Programme (VehCAP).
The MoU was jointly signed by the Director General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor; the Director General of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke; and the Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin.
Prof. Barikor described VehCAP as a significant component of national environmental protection efforts, ensuring that vehicles on Nigerian roads comply with applicable environmental standards from manufacturing to usage and end-of-life.
He said, “VehCAP must not be viewed merely as an enforcement mechanism but as a means of promoting environmental compliance and responsible industry practices, protecting consumers and creating greater confidence in Nigeria’s automotive sector.”
The Chief Executive Officer of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, said VehCAP is intended to regulate used vehicle imports and ensure that Nigerian roads and the environment are no longer a dumping ground for unsafe vehicles.
A key highlight of the ceremony was the inauguration of the Director General of SON, Dr. Okeke, as the first Chairman of the VehCAP Steering Committee.
According to him, “Our regulatory systems must continue to support legitimate trade, protect consumers, promote industrial development and safeguard the environment.”
He added that under VehCAP, all used vehicles and automotive products entering Nigeria must obtain pre-shipment certification before customs valuation, port processing, import clearance and market entry.
