By Chika Okeke
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has pointed out that regulating automobile business nationwide was designed to protect verified local investors, build consumer trust and give legitimate dealers a recognised enterprise identity in the digital economy.
This followed plans by NADDC to commence online registration and licensing for dealers, given that the retail and dealership sub-sector had suffered years of fragmentation, unstructured operations and lack of verified data.
Director-General of NADDC, Joseph Osanipin disclosed this at a sensitisation workshop organised for members of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON) in Abuja.
Already, NADDC has created an online registration portal for the dealers, though it is not an administrative tax scheme or a revenue barrier.
Osanipin said: “Financial institutions struggle to extend asset financing to dealers because of verification gaps, while the government finds it hard to track market dynamics and curb grey market imports.
He pleaded with car dealers and automotive stakeholders to embrace digital transparency by completing their registration online, noting that consumers are often exposed to unverified, un-customed or substandard vehicles without adequate warranty protection.
The DG disclosed that the portal is a unified digital platform to formalise dealership operations nationwide and authenticate legitimate, tax-paying dealers while eliminating fraudulent and unaccredited operators.
“It will bridge the verification gap between dealers, commercial banks and original equipment manufacturers and distributors to unlock asset financing. The portal will also integrate data with the Nigeria Customs Service and tax authorities to eliminate double taxation, clear uncustomed vehicles from showrooms and curb smuggling,” he said.
He stated that the registry would ensure that preferential public procurement and the government fleet purchases prioritised accredited local vehicle assemblers and their authorised dealership networks, in line with the Nigeria First Policy.
Osanipin informed that onboarding onto the platform would position dealers to benefit from Federal opportunities and expanded cross-border trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Director of Operations, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulkarim Chukkah described proper documentation as vital to investigations, adding that the records of registration and dealership activities would assist law enforcement agencies in identifying individuals and tracing transactions during investigations.
He noted that the EFCC is willing to partner with NADDC to strengthen procedures and support efforts to combat economic and financial crimes.
The AMDON president, Prince Ajibola Adedoye stated that NADDC’s dealership registration would fish out unregistered operators from the motor sector, as enforcement is expected to commence by the end of the year.
National Secretary of AMDON, Alhaji Ibrahim Kaso lauded NADDC’s leadership for improving relations between the council and motor dealers, describing the initiative as a step towards bringing motor dealers under a common regulatory framework and promoting order in the sector.
Kaso informed that the association would support the licensing initiative across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
