Reps tell FG to suspend ban on importation of vehicles through land borders

The House of Representatives, on Thursday, asked the Federal Government, to suspend the ban on importation of vehicles through land borders.

The lawmakers have mandated the Committees on Governmental Affairs and Customs and Excise, to ensure implementation and report back to the House within six weeks.

This development was based on a motion, entitled “Need to suspend The Ban On Importation of Vehicles Through Land Borders,”promoted by Hon. Abdulahi Salame.

Salame argued that those making these policies have failed to patronize Nigerian assembled vehicles, which 80% of Nigerians cannot even afford.

He said: “The percentage of Nigerians who can afford cars has declined drastically, following the decline in the value of the Naira, rising inflation, unemployment and high cost of living that have bedeviled Nigeria where over 80 per cent of Nigerians live below $2 a day.

“The Federal Government has powers under Section 18 of the Customs and Excise Management Act to restrict the movement of goods into and out of Nigeria by land or inland waters and to appoint customs stations.

“However, similar exercise of such powers on rice importation through the land borders in April 2016, has occasioned untold hardship on Nigerians, as a bag of rice now sells for between N20,000 and N23,000, against N8,000 a few months ago.

“As it is now, the government has not put in place alternative measures to ensure that Nigerians will have access to cars since it is cheaper to buy cars from neighbouring countries and still generate revenue by ensuring that our borders are secured to prevent smuggling, and also that there will be no job losses.”

Salame also expressed worry that “the ban will cause more harm than good as it will certainly lead to increase in smuggling,deprive poor Nigerians access to acquiring vehicles, skyrocket the prices of cars cleared at the Wharf, increase inflation and further mount pressure on the already weak naira and lead to idleness, insecurity and criminality at the border points.”

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