Lawmakers propose mandatory maintenance facilities, genuine spare parts and trained Nigerian technicians to protect consumers and prevent substandard imports……
The House of Representatives has called for tighter regulations on the importation of electric vehicles (EVs), compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles and related equipment, proposing mandatory local maintenance centres and after-sales support for importers.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to introduce a transparent licensing framework for companies importing alternative-fuel vehicles, warning that Nigeria could become a dumping ground for vehicles without adequate technical support, maintenance facilities and safety safeguards.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Rep. Ademorin Kuye during Wednesday’s plenary, where lawmakers raised concerns about consumer protection, vehicle safety, domestic investment and the country’s preparedness for the growing adoption of cleaner transportation technologies.
Under the proposed framework, the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), working with the Bureau of Public Procurement, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies, would establish clear requirements for approving importers.
Companies seeking approval could be required to establish certified service and maintenance centres in Nigeria, supply genuine spare parts, provide warranty support and employ and train qualified Nigerian technicians.
Other proposed conditions include investing in electric-vehicle charging stations or CNG refuelling facilities, complying with national safety and environmental standards, and submitting detailed consumer protection and after-sales service plans.
The House also proposed a publicly accessible register of approved importers and infrastructure providers to improve transparency and help consumers identify authorised operators.
It stressed that the licensing process should remain open, competitive and non-discriminatory, allowing every company that meets the prescribed standards to qualify.
The lawmakers further recommended linking tax incentives, import duty concessions and other fiscal benefits to compliance with the proposed requirements to encourage investment in local infrastructure and technical expertise.
Contributing to the debate, Rep. Dominic Okafor cautioned against allowing Nigeria to become a destination for vehicles that lack adequate technical support or are unsuitable for local operating conditions.
He argued that importers should demonstrate their capacity to maintain the vehicles they sell and provide reliable support to customers after purchase.
“It’s very important to see that all the players in this motion are dressed seriously, so that Nigeria is not made a dumping ground,” Okafor said.
He noted that some manufacturers produce different categories of vehicles for Western markets and developing countries, including Nigeria, making it necessary to establish safeguards that ensure imported vehicles meet the country’s requirements.
Okafor said electric vehicles require continued technical support, access to spare parts and specialised maintenance facilities, unlike products that can be consumed immediately after purchase.
“Electric vehicles are not a one-sell product,” he said, warning that consumers could face unnecessary expenses or be left stranded if maintenance centres and replacement parts were unavailable.
The lawmaker also raised concerns about the commercial importation of CNG-powered vehicles and trucks without adequate technical facilities and safety measures.
“Efforts should be made that whoever that importer is issued to has some of these facilities, not just in it as a trading activity,” he added.
Rep. Kalejaiye Adeboye Paul also backed the proposal, describing local maintenance and repair facilities as essential to sustaining Nigeria’s transition to alternative-fuel transportation.
He said state governments were increasingly embracing the programme, making it important to prepare for the long-term implications of importing vehicles without developing the technical capacity to maintain them.
“But I think that establishing their own centre here in Nigeria for maintenance and repairs is very essential. It has to be a condition for which we can continue to embrace this,” Paul said.
He warned that Nigeria’s limited vehicle manufacturing and assembly capacity could create difficulties as the adoption of electric and CNG vehicles expands.
“We are not manufacturing here. We are not assembling here. And we do not have what it takes to keep this going,” he said.
Paul cautioned that the consequences of operating alternative-fuel vehicles without adequate maintenance infrastructure could become more apparent over time, urging the House to support safeguards that protect consumers and strengthen the country’s technical capacity.
Rep. Stanley Olajide described the motion as timely, citing global concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
He said a properly regulated shift towards cleaner transportation could help Nigeria contribute to environmental protection while pursuing its economic development objectives.
“I believe having this framework will not only be responsible as a nation, it will also help us toward the line of having an environment-friendly system where we can actually say we are contributing to the right cause in the world,” Olajide said.
Rep. Sada Soli also supported the proposal, arguing that a clear legal framework was necessary to underpin the Federal Government’s clean transportation policy.
Soli recalled that the government had announced fiscal incentives for CNG vehicles and certain categories of electric vehicles, but said legislation was needed to establish comprehensive rules for implementing the policy.
“What is lacking in this policy is the legal aspect of it,” he said, urging the motion’s sponsor to develop the proposal into a bill.
He argued that the National Assembly should take an active role in creating a legal framework for the sector rather than leaving the responsibility entirely to the executive.
“We should not surrender it to the government because the government has built on this policy,” Soli said.
He also identified environmental protection, lower transportation costs and employment generation as potential benefits of a well-managed transition to alternative-fuel vehicles.
According to him, the adoption of cleaner transportation technologies could create jobs and new income opportunities if supported by appropriate policies, infrastructure and investment.
House orders four-week implementation review
The House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated its Committees on Industry, Commerce, Gas Resources, Environment and Legislative Compliance to monitor implementation and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
Following the debate, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas acknowledged the support for the proposal and encouraged Kuye to provide additional details on how the proposed policy would operate.
The resolution marks a push by lawmakers to ensure that Nigeria’s transition towards alternative-fuel vehicles is accompanied by adequate consumer protection, technical support and local infrastructure.
If translated into an enforceable legal framework, the proposed requirements could reshape the conditions under which importers bring electric and CNG vehicles into the country, while encouraging greater investment in maintenance services, spare parts supply and technical training.
