Nigeria’s passenger vehicle imports surged to N1.18 trillion in the first half of 2026, up 145.6% compared to the N479.26 billion recorded in the same period of the previous year.
The figure is contained in the latest Foreign Trade Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics and analysed by The News Chronicle.
In total, Nigeria spent N3.73 trillion in the first half of the year importing transport equipment and parts, a rise of 44.2% above N2.59 trillion in H1 2025.
Passenger car imports jumped from N552.34 billion in Q1 to N624.75 billion in Q2, while other transport equipment also advanced to N1.83 trillion, with industrial transport equipment hitting N1.39 trillion.
However, imports of transport parts and accessories fell by 4.4% to N722.59 billion, showing that complete vehicles and other equipment were largely responsible for the increase.
The News Chronicle reports that the surge comes as the Federal Government pushes CNG and electric vehicles as cheaper alternatives amid efforts to reduce transportation costs.
Government measures include waivers on import duties for electric vehicles and mass transit buses, alongside plans to expand CNG and electric vehicle adoption nationwide.
The figures highlight Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported vehicles despite growing investment in alternative fuel transportation.
