Nigeria’s spending on imported passenger vehicles jumped by 145.6 per cent year-on-year to N1.18tn in the first six months of 2026, contributing significantly to a sharp rise in the country’s total transport equipment import bill.
The latest figure represents a substantial increase from the N479.26bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
An analysis of the Q1 and Q2 2026 Foreign Trade Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the value of transport equipment and parts imported into the country also climbed during the period.
Nigeria imported transport equipment and parts worth N3.73tn in the first half of 2026, representing a 44.2 per cent increase compared with the N2.59tn recorded in H1 2025.
The increase was largely driven by passenger motor vehicles and other categories of transport equipment, while spending on parts and accessories moved in the opposite direction.
Transport equipment imports rose from N1.75tn in the first quarter to N1.99tn in the second quarter of 2026.
Passenger motor car imports followed a similar upward trajectory, increasing from N552.34bn in Q1 to N624.75bn in Q2.
Passenger vehicles lead growth
Passenger motor cars recorded the strongest expansion among the major transport-related import categories during the period, with the value of imports more than doubling compared with the first half of 2025.
In Q1 2025, Nigeria imported passenger motor cars worth N224.58bn, while the figure stood at N254.67bn in Q2.
By comparison, imports surged to N552.34bn in Q1 2026 and N624.75bn in Q2.
The figures indicate that the rise was not limited to one quarter but continued throughout the first half of the year.
Other transport equipment also recorded significant growth, rising to N1.83tn in H1 2026 from N1.36tn a year earlier.
A closer look at the category shows that industrial transport equipment accounted for much of the increase, climbing from N975.18bn in H1 2025 to N1.39tn in H1 2026.
Non-industrial transport equipment also recorded growth, although at a slower pace, rising to N440.73bn from N380.96bn.
The trend was different for parts and accessories.
Imports in that category fell to N722.59bn in H1 2026, compared with N755.43bn recorded during the corresponding period of 2025, representing a decline of about 4.4 per cent.
The figures suggest that the increase in Nigeria’s overall transport import bill was primarily driven by the importation of complete vehicles and other transport equipment rather than spare parts and accessories.
Policy push for alternative-fuel vehicles
The increase in vehicle imports comes at a time when the Federal Government is pursuing measures aimed at reducing transportation costs and encouraging a shift towards alternative-fuel vehicles.
In April, the government announced a waiver of import duties on electric vehicles, mass transit buses and manufacturing machinery as part of efforts to reduce economic pressures and promote investment.
The policy was also expected to support the adoption of cleaner and potentially cheaper transportation options.
In August, President Bola Tinubu announced that state governors had agreed to leverage compressed natural gas and electric vehicles as part of measures to bring down transportation costs nationwide from October 1, 2026.
The government has also continued to promote CNG as an alternative to petrol.
The Presidential CNG Initiative was launched in 2023 following the removal of the petrol subsidy, with the programme designed to encourage the use of compressed natural gas as a cheaper and cleaner fuel option for motorists and public transport operators.
Imported vehicles remain dominant
Despite the policy push towards alternative fuels and increased investment in domestic transport solutions, the latest trade figures highlight Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported vehicles and transport equipment.
The sharp increase in passenger motor car imports points to sustained demand for vehicles in the Nigerian market, while also underscoring the pressure placed on the country’s import bill by dependence on foreign-made transport equipment.
The development comes alongside growing private-sector investment in Nigeria’s CNG industry.
The country’s CNG sector has attracted more than $2bn in private-sector investment over the past two years, reflecting growing interest in alternative-fuel infrastructure and transportation.
However, the Federal Government did not meet its 2025 targets for the rollout of CNG infrastructure nationwide.
The latest import figures therefore present a mixed picture for Nigeria’s transportation sector: demand for vehicles remains strong, even as policymakers and investors push for greater adoption of alternative fuels and the development of a more sustainable domestic transportation system.
