Abuja:The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) is taking steps to regulate motor dealership businesses across the nation through a new system of registration and licensing. This was announced by Joseph Osanipin, the Director-General of NADDC, during a workshop for members of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON) held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the NADDC plans to introduce an online registration portal for dealers. Osanipin clarified that this portal is not intended as a tax scheme or revenue barrier, but as a framework to empower local investors, build consumer trust, and provide legitimate dealers with a recognized identity in the digital economy.
Osanipin highlighted longstanding issues such as fragmentation and unstructured operations within the retail and dealership sub-sector, which have been exacerbated by verification gaps. These gaps have hindered financial institutions in extending asset financing to dealers and complicated government efforts to track market dynamics and control unauthorized imports. Consumers, in turn, face risks with unverified and substandard vehicles lacking warranty protection.
The online portal is designed as a unified digital platform to formalize dealership operations, authenticate legitimate dealers, and eliminate fraudulent operators. By bridging verification gaps, the portal aims to facilitate asset financing and will integrate data with the Nigeria Customs Service to address issues like double taxation and smuggling.
Osanipin emphasized that this initiative aligns with the Nigeria First Policy, ensuring that public procurement and government fleet purchases prioritize accredited local assemblers and their networks. The platform will also enable dealers to benefit from federal opportunities and expanded trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The initiative has received support from key figures, including Abdulkarim Chukkah, EFCC Director of Operations, who acknowledged the importance of proper documentation for investigations. Chukkah stated that the EFCC is open to partnering with NADDC to combat economic and financial crimes.
AMDON President Prince Ajibola Adedoye and National Secretary Alhaji Ibrahim Kaso both expressed their support for the initiative. Adedoye noted that enforcement could start within a few months, while Kaso praised the improved cooperation between NADDC and motor dealers, viewing the initiative as a means to promote order in the sector.