Toxic wheels: How imported ‘tokunbo’ cars from US and Canada are turning Nigeria’s roads into death traps

Uchechi Okporie May 03, 2026 3 min read

Toxic wheels: How imported ‘tokunbo’ cars from US and Canada are turning Nigeria’s roads into death traps

Nigeria’s thriving market for imported second-hand vehicles popularly known as tokunbo is facing renewed scrutiny as safety concerns escalate across the country.

Once seen as an affordable alternative for millions of Nigerians, many of these vehicles arriving from the United States and Canada are now being linked to rising road accidents, mechanical failures, and preventable deaths.

Investigations reveal that a significant number of these cars were previously written off abroad due to severe damage from accidents, floods, or structural faults.

In North America, such vehicles are often deemed unsafe or too costly to repair. However, after minimal refurbishment, they are shipped into Nigeria, where regulatory oversight remains weak and buyers are often unaware of their history.

Industry experts warn that beyond cosmetic fixes, many of these vehicles carry hidden defects compromised airbags, weakened chassis, and faulty braking systems that pose serious risks on Nigerian highways. With limited access to vehicle history databases and inconsistent inspection standards at ports, dangerous cars continue to slip through the cracks.

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The situation is compounded by economic pressures. For many Nigerians, tokunbo cars remain the only realistic option due to the high cost of brand-new vehicles.

This demand has created a booming import chain, where profit often outweighs safety considerations.

Road safety advocates are now calling for urgent reforms, including stricter import regulations, mandatory vehicle history verification, and improved inspection protocols.

Without decisive action, they warn, Nigeria risks becoming a dumping ground for unsafe vehicles rejected by other countries.

As Africa’s largest economy grapples with road safety challenges, the debate over tokunbo imports highlights a deeper issue how global trade practices and local regulatory gaps intersect to endanger lives daily on the continent’s busiest roads.

Nigeria Tokunbo cars Road safety

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Toxic wheels: How imported ‘tokunbo’ cars from US and Canada are turning Nigeria’s roads into death traps

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