Ban On Vehicle Import Could Increase Smuggling, Say Dealers

Agency report

Ondo State Chapter of the Motor Dealers’ Association has appealed to the Federal Government to rethink its decision to ban importation of vehicles via the land borders, saying it would cause a lot of hardship.

Ayodele Owoyemi, the state chairman, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Akure.

Owoyemi said that the ban took the association by surprise because of the possible negative effects it would have on Nigerians.

According to him, allowing imported vehicles only through the sea ports may not be good enough for the stakeholders, saying that the process may cause some delays in the clearing of such vehicles.

He added that the ban would even increase smuggling activities in the border areas, because some of the vehicles might not be able to undergo the processes at the sea ports.

Prices of vehicles could go up

“As motor dealers, the news took us by surprise because only a few motor dealers can travel overseas to import vehicles.

“Even, the usual congestion at our sea ports will make things more difficult, which may lead to an increase in the prices of such vehicles.

“No average Nigerian can find it easy to buy a brand new vehicle in the present dispensation,’’ he said.

The chairman, therefore, called on the Federal Government to have a rethink on the ban, considering the revenue it generates from imported vehicles through land borders.

He said that the association’s national leadership was consulting with other stakeholders, before making its representation to the Federal Government, on the issue.

The ban, which was announced about ten days ago, is expected to come into force on 1 January, 2017