NAN-HE-1
Ban
By Franca Ofili
Abuja, Jan. 5, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Government ban on the importation of vehicles into Nigeria through the land borders has generated mixed reactions among some car dealers in Mararaba, Nasarawa state.
The car dealers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mararaba on Wednesday that the Federal Government should have put palliative measures in place before coming up with the policy.
NAN recalls that the Federal Government on Dec. 5, 2016, placed a ban on the importation of used and new vehicles through the country’s land borders with effect from Jan. 1, 2017.
Mr Onyecheme Clement, the Managing Director of a motor company in the area, said it was not a welcome development as the policy would affect the car dealing business.
Cue in audio 1 (Clement)
“The ban is not welcome; before a policy like this is introduced, government is supposed to carry out a survey, because of the effect the policy will have on the Nigerian economy, on the general public, on the dealers and on the people importing the vehicles.
“For us, with the current exchange rate, we cannot do anything. Once we sell we cannot replace the ones we have sold.
“The government is supposed to carry out a survey and put palliative measures in place before the ban; that is how it is done in civilised societies.
“When you go to Cotonu, any car you want you will get it there.
“In Lagos it is not like that; the delay in clearing in Lagos is very much and the cost too.
“Most of the ports we have in the country are not effective.
“We have to put those ports in order before this type of thing will come into being.
“Look at the traffic situation in Lagos today.
“What will be the effect when everybody going to Cotonu to buy cars now goes to Lagos?
“It means Lagos will stand still for almost three days.’’
Cue out audio 1
Also, Mr Fidelis Ene, Usman Motors, Mararaba said the country do not have enough seaports that would accommodate all importation of cars.
Ene advised the Federal government to put in place measures to ensure that people paid the proper tariff to generate more revenue.
“With this ban there would be more smuggling in the country because people will still device other means of bringing cars into the country and such might increase the prices of the cars,’’ he said.
He warned that the ban would worsen unemployment and poverty as well as encourage smuggling.
“This policy is not thoughtful. It holds a lot of implications for the economic development of the country,’’ he stated.
Another dealer, Mr Aaron Adole of Isma Motors in Mararaba, said it was a good development as it would add to the revenue accruing to the Federal Government.
Adole added that the ban would curtail the importation of arms and ammunition to the country.
Cue in audio 2 (Adole)
“To me, it is a good step in the right direction.
“We don’t look at our personal interests alone; we look at what will benefit the country.
“The revenue the Federal Government has been losing in past years will now be going directly to the Federal Government’s purse for now, because with the measure, if tightly followed, the money we are taking to Benin Republic to buy cars and pay to their government will now be paid to the Federal Government of Nigeria, which will benefit us.
“The closures of land bounders to a large extend that is bring in arms and ammunition into the country would be stopped.
“So it is a good step; it may put us to a little hardship, but with time we are going to get used to it.’’
Cue out audio 2
He pleaded with the government to go a step further by reducing the duty for vehicle importers through the seaports.
Adole said the ban would create jobs for Nigerians and revive some ports that had been redundant.
He described importers of vehicles through the land borders are saboteurs. (NAN)
FNO/YEE
Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
=====================