FEMI OWOEYE
Nigeria has condemned using Africa as a dumping ground for unsafe used vehicles from the western world.
The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin made the censure at the 194th session of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) at the UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland.
The session brought together key representatives from governments, international organizations, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on global best practices, rules and regulations to ensure safety, standardization and harmonization of relevant vehicles regulations.
Addressing the international delegates at the dedicated session on Safer, Cleaner Used and New Vehicles (SCUNV), the NADDC DG emphasized the urgent need for robust standards governing the importation and management of used vehicles, particularly into Africa and Nigeria.
Osanipin , who led Nigeria’s delegation to the event, raised serious concerns about what he described as the growing trend of shipping damaged vehicles especially flood-affected, tampered-VIN, and scrapped vehicles—to Africa.
He called for urgent Standardization and harmonization of Used Vehicle Requirements, stressing the importance of establishing uniform regulations to ensure the safety, performance, and environmental compliance of used vehicles entering developing markets.
“Exporting countries,” Osanipin appealed, “should be mandated to conduct thorough pre-shipment inspections of all used vehicles, ensuring they meet destination country standards before export.”
He also called for an extension of the mandate and timeframe of the Informal Working Group (IWG) on SCUNV, noting that this would allow the group to deepen its work, engage broader stakeholders, and develop more comprehensive frameworks.
The leader of Nigerian delegation emphasized the nation’s commitment to staying ahead of global automotive innovations and aligning local regulations with international standards.
“We must strive to be ahead in terms of regulations in the face of ever-evolving technologies and innovations in vehicles and the automotive industry across the world,” he stated.
The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WFHVR) platform plays a pivotal role in fostering global collaboration on vehicle regulations, and Nigeria’s continued participation reinforces its strategic intention to modernize its automotive sector, attract investment, and promote the development of safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly vehicles.
The Director General was accompanied by Director Policy, Planning amd Statistics of NADDC and other relevant government institutions, further reflecting Nigeria’s multi-stakeholder approach to automotive policy development and regulatory implementation.
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