Background: Nigeria's Used Car Import Landscape

Nigeria is a left-hand drive country and one of Africa's largest used car markets, with an estimated 500,000 second-hand vehicles sold annually compared to just 13,000 brand-new cars, according to industry data. The overwhelming majority of those used vehicles are imported, with clearing costs, customs duties, and foreign exchange rates determining which brands dominate.

In a report published on March 2, 2026, Nigeria's most widely read newspaper, The PUNCH, investigated why Toyota consistently leads all other brands in the country's used vehicle import volumes — and found a combination of favourable duty structures, proven durability, and low running costs at the root of Toyota's dominance.

How Import Duties Favour Toyota

Nigeria applies the same import duty rate across all passenger vehicles of the same model year, meaning there is no blanket tariff advantage for Toyota over Volkswagen, Honda, or Ford. However, Toyota's edge emerges from the combination of lower overseas purchase prices and cheaper clearing costs — making Toyota the most cost-effective brand to import at scale.

Abayomi Duyile, Apapa Chapter Chairman of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, confirmed to The PUNCH that Toyota records the highest import volumes of any brand entering the country. He noted that high-end brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and Rolls-Royce attract higher effective duty burdens due to their higher declared values, even when nominal rates are equal. Lexus, Toyota's luxury sub-brand, also falls into this higher-cost bracket within the Toyota family.

The Models Driving Demand

A key structural advantage for Toyota in Nigeria is the width of its affordable model range. While most car brands exported to Nigeria are concentrated in a small number of segments, Toyota covers entry-level hatchbacks through to mid-size sedans and compact SUVs — all with competitive used prices overseas.

Ugochukwu Nnadi, a chieftain of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, pointed specifically to smaller Toyota models as the engine of volume growth. The Toyota Yaris, Toyota Matrix, and Toyota Corolla are all in high demand because their lower overseas purchase prices align with the purchasing power of most Nigerian buyers — while still delivering the durability Nigerians expect from the brand.

The Toyota Camry, meanwhile, holds a unique position in the Nigerian used car market. Known locally by generational nicknames — the "Big Daddy," the "Muscle" and the "Spider" — the Camry is the dominant choice for ride-hailing drivers on platforms like Uber and Bolt, young professionals, and mid-income families. It combines prestige, Toyota's reliability reputation, and a strong resale value that few other sedans can match.

What Dealers and Freight Agents Say

Ajibola Adedoyin, National President of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria, was direct in explaining Toyota's continued dominance: durability and low fuel consumption are the two decisive factors for Nigerian buyers, and Toyota leads on both counts.

"The simple reason is just because of the durability and the low fuel consumption. Those are the two major things: durability, low consumption, and easy maintenance. Toyota is the major product that you sell most to Nigerians," Adedoyin told The PUNCH.

With Nigeria's petrol prices exceeding ₦1,000 per litre following the 2023 subsidy removal and annual inflation running at 34.8% in 2025, fuel efficiency has become a critical buying criterion — a factor that Toyota's range addresses more comprehensively than most competing brands at similar used price points.

Customs agents and freight forwarders also noted that Toyota's widespread availability and standardised spare parts ecosystem reduces both downtime and the risk of counterfeit components — a persistent problem with less common imported brands in Nigeria.

Nigeria's Used Car Market in Numbers

• Approximately 500,000 used vehicles are sold in Nigeria annually

• New vehicle sales total around 13,000 units per year — less than 3% of the used market

• Toyota Nigeria Limited sold over 3,000 new vehicles in 2024, exceeding its own projections

• Toyota holds the highest resale value of any car brand in Nigeria's second-hand market

• Toyota and Honda have the most comprehensive spare parts and service networks of any brand in Nigeria

Why This Matters for Used Toyota Buyers

Nigeria's used car market dynamics reflect a broader truth about Toyota's dominance across left-hand drive Africa: affordability at the point of import, low total cost of ownership, and unmatched parts availability combine to make Toyota the rational default for the majority of buyers.

For buyers sourcing used Toyota vehicles — whether the Corolla, Camry, Yaris or Matrix — Nigeria's market data confirms that demand is structural, not speculative. Resale values hold firm precisely because the next buyer faces the same cost-of-ownership calculus. That consistency makes used Toyotas one of the most dependable purchases available in the Nigerian market in 2026.

Sources

• The PUNCH Nigeria — "Low duties drive Toyota imports in Nigeria" — March 2, 2026

• BusinessDay Nigeria — "8 Car brands with second hand value in Nigeria"

• Carlots.ng — "Toyota Camry Prices in Nigeria 2026: Pencil Light to Spider"

• BusinessDay Nigeria — "Toyota Nigeria commits to diverse model offerings, customer service"