Right track

But seeking the policy’s motive, beyond the very immediate terms, we can focus on its joint sponsors: the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), under its Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme (VCAP).

SON is charged with standardising every manufactured product in Nigeria to ensure they conform to standards.  NADDC, on the other hand, is limited to research, development and standardisation of the “Nigerian” auto – a goal now more theoretical than practical, given how auto patterns and manufacturing are panning out in the global industry.

Still, each jurisdiction must have a captain that enforces standards, not only on imported vehicles – new or used – but on locally manufactured ones.

Taken SON’s and NADDC’s joint interest in this matter, it is logical to surmise that the ultimate goal is to make way – sooner than later – for made-in-Nigeria autos (both assembly plants coupling foreign popular brands; and Nigerian indigenous brands like Innoson and Nord) to dominate the Nigerian car mart.  Again, that is a noble goal, which both bodies should work towards as soon as possible.

By the new policy, auto importers must obtain pre-shipment certification before shipping the products to Nigeria.  The minister further explained the policy’s nitty-gritty, from fiscal, operational and sundry angles.

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“The endorsement integrates vehicle safety into Nigeria’s economic policy framework.  It aligns,” he added, “fiscal instruments, foreign exchange import financing, and revenue systems with safety and standards objectives.  It also strengthens” he further explained, “the long-standing work of SON and NADDC within a coordinated whole-of-government approach.”

The policy is spot-on on safety.  That is the most basic requirement before people expose themselves to a machine.  But there is also the environmental question, which really is in the realm of public health.  Such certified standardisation should limit carbon emission into the air, especially by used vehicles being shipped into Nigeria.  We are all in the midst of a carbon crisis, which makes the earth – our earth – exceedingly hot.  So, any policy that wages a war against climate change is sound policy.

Still, all of these, other things being equal, could be better enforced by having firmer controls over the vehicles’ manufacturing.  That again shouts the imperative for market-competitive made-in-Nigeria autos.

On the demand side, the Federal Government is taking the first steps in mainstreaming consumer credit.  That should shore up Nigerians’ ability to buy new made-in-Nigeria cars, against used imported ones.  But local car manufacturing is hardly competitive, without reasonably priced, constant electricity. That is the core demand. Indeed, that imperative goes to the core of manufacturing in Nigeria.

This policy is a renewed call for Nigeria’s re-industrialisation, after the import-prone structural adjustment programme (SAP) years.  But we must ensure that corrupt border officials, charged with enforcing the policy, don’t subvert it.