The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Chief Charles Ugwuh, who disclosed this at a meeting with local automotive manufacturers/assemblers and major importers/distributors in Abuja, said the new rule was to avoid the importation of vehicles that would require excessive maintenance.

Ugwuh, who also disclosed that government was rolling out a new policy for the development of panel van and light trucks that Nigeria needed, challenged the local manufacturers of concentrate on making panel vans, light trucks and mid range trucks that could move commerce and industry forward.

He said, “We came to a decision to concentrate on panel van, light trucks and mid range trucks. The national efforts should be geared towards developing functional vehicles that will move the commerce and industry.

“We agreed that we will concentrate on panel van, light truck and mid range trucks, so, based on that we would now have target investment in that direction and mobilise resources to achieve that.”

He assured the auto manufacturers that government would provide some incentives and protective measures, which include “enforcement of the patronage gazette for products of local firms by all tiers of government, in all government contracts, in all multinational grants and in joint partnerships agreements.”

The minister further revealed that government would maintain the requirement that cars imported in to the country should not be older than eight years, stressing that “government’s focus is how to realise the new policy of the development of panel van, light truck and road in truck that Nigeria needs.”

He stated, “Government will introduce a certain degree of consistency in duty charged with used vehicles attracting higher tariff (minimum of 50 per cent than new ones), while manufacturers and assemblers should enjoy low tariff on all inputs.

“This will discourage the continue purchase of used vehicles whilst that of new ones will be encouraged.”

That is just a thought/plan of the minister.
I guess that it will be feasible when all things are in place for massive local vehicle assembly.
Lots of countries in SE Asia developed their auto industry like that