In a recent public statement, Adewunmi Adeshina boldly declared: “We cannot continue importing cars, we must start manufacturing them.” This isn’t just an economic or patriotic call; it’s also an environmental one. Nigeria, like many African nations, finds itself at a critical crossroads. The country’s roads are clogged with used (often near-obsolete) vehicles shipped in from Europe, the U.S., and Asia. While these imports provide short-term mobility, they come with long-term environmental costs, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and poor fuel efficiency.
But does local car manufacturing offer a greener alternative? Not inherently. Unless Nigeria gets certain foundational elements right, energy source, materials management, and emissions standards, manufacturing could simply shift the pollution from ports to production lines.
This article dives into the environmental implications of continuing car imports vs. shifting to local manufacturing, and what Nigeria must get right to make the transition sustainable.
The Pollution Problem: Importing New and Used Cars
1. Used Car Imports: Dumping Grounds for Dirty Engines
Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest importers of used vehicles, popularly called “tokunbo.” These cars are often over 10 years old, with outdated combustion engines, poor fuel economy, and worn-out emission systems. Many of them would not pass environmental standards in their country of origin.
• Air Pollution: These vehicles release high levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, contributing to Lagos’ and Abuja’s worsening air quality.
• Climate Impact: Older cars are less fuel-efficient and emit more CO2 per kilometre than newer models. This exacerbates Nigeria’s carbon footprint.
• Toxic Waste: Used vehicles are more likely to leak fluids such as motor oil, brake fluid, and coolants—harmful to soil and water systems.
2. New Car Imports: Hidden Emissions Abroad
Even new cars, when imported, carry an environmental cost.
• Embodied Carbon: Manufacturing a car emits between 6–35 metric tons of CO2, depending on the model. Importing vehicles means Nigeria contributes to pollution generated in foreign countries, without control over how clean or dirty that process is.
• Shipping Emissions: Maritime transport used for importation is responsible for around 3% of global GHG emissions. Each container ship emits thousands of tons of carbon and sulphur oxides during its transcontinental journey.
Could Manufacturing in Nigeria Be Greener?
On the surface, manufacturing vehicles locally may reduce reliance on high-polluting imports and foster national economic growth. But the environmental benefits depend entirely on how we build our automotive industry.
Here’s how car manufacturing could help Nigeria reduce environmental damage:
• Emission Standards Compliance: Locally built vehicles can be designed to meet cleaner, more modern Euro 6 emission standards, something hard to enforce on old imports.
• Shorter Supply Chains: Locally made cars don’t require long-distance shipping, which cuts transport-related emissions.
• Control Over Production: Domestic manufacturing allows for oversight of materials, processes, and waste management, reducing pollution over time.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Opportunity: Nigeria can leapfrog to electric vehicle manufacturing rather than following the old path of internal combustion engines.
However, all this depends on getting the foundation right.
What Nigeria Must Get Right Before Manufacturing Cars
1. Clean and Reliable Energy Supply
Manufacturing vehicles is energy-intensive. If factories run on diesel generators, as is often the case due to unreliable power, then emissions from manufacturing may outweigh any benefits.
What’s needed:
• Investment in renewable energy (solar, hydro, and wind) to power factories.
• Integration into the national grid with reliable, low-emission power supply.
2. Raw Materials and Recycling
Car production relies heavily on metals like aluminum, steel, lithium, and rare earth elements. Improper mining and material sourcing can lead to deforestation, water contamination, and soil degradation.
What’s needed:
• Responsible mining practices with environmental impact assessments.
• Development of vehicle recycling systems, salvaging metals, plastics, and glass from end-of-life vehicles to reduce raw material demand.
3. Environmental Regulations and Compliance
Weak enforcement of environmental laws is a national problem. If unchecked, manufacturers may cut corners, dumping waste, ignoring air quality standards, or using low-grade materials.
What’s needed:
• Strong Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) mandates for all auto plants.
• Clear vehicle emission regulations for both manufacturing and on-road usage.
• Establishment of monitoring agencies with the power to audit and sanction.
4. Skill Development and Green Innovation
Building an automotive industry requires a skilled workforce and R&D investment. Without it, we risk producing outdated technologies that pollute just as badly as imports.
What’s needed:
• Investment in technical and engineering education.
• Innovation hubs for green mobility solutions, including EVs, solar-powered vehicles, and hybrid models.
5. Public Transport Integration
Focusing solely on personal vehicles may increase overall emissions and traffic congestion.
What’s needed:
• Parallel investment in green mass transit systems, like electric buses or rail systems.
• Manufacturing plants should prioritize fleet vehicles, not just personal cars.
The EV Leap: Nigeria’s Chance to Skip the Combustion Era
If Nigeria is serious about becoming an auto manufacturing hub, the future lies in electric vehicles (EVs). EVs eliminate tailpipe emissions entirely and can be charged using solar or hydro-powered grids. With abundant sunlight and growing energy access initiatives, Nigeria is well-positioned to build an EV ecosystem.
Countries like Rwanda and Kenya are already making moves in this space, producing electric motorbikes and buses. Nigeria can learn from them and avoid being left behind.
However, building EVs comes with its own environmental baggage, such as lithium and cobalt mining. Ethical sourcing, battery recycling, and local R&D are essential to mitigate these risks.
In conclusion, Nigeria needs to “Build, But Build Right”.Adewunmi Adeshina is right, Nigeria must stop being a dumping ground for other people’s used vehicles. Manufacturing locally could create jobs, stimulate the economy, and strengthen technological independence. But this opportunity must not come at the environment’s expense.
To avoid replicating the mistakes of the Global North, Nigeria must invest in clean energy, enforce environmental standards, develop technical capacity, and pivot to green technology.
The goal isn’t just to build cars, it’s to build a clean, sustainable, and resilient auto industry that supports both economic and environmental goals.
If done right, Nigeria can become Africa’s green mobility leader, driving not only innovation but a cleaner, healthier future for all.
