Suspend Land-Border Vehicle Importation Ban Now — House of Reps To Customs

The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the executive arm of government to immediately suspend the ban on importation of vehicles through the land borders, Thisday reports.

The Nigerian Customs Service had on Monday released a statement, prohibiting the importation of new and used vehicles through the land borders with effect from January 1, 2017.

The House adopted a motion which urged the executive to ensure that the law enforcement agencies, especially those working at the borders, are diligent in their duties by ensuring the due import charged are remitted to the government. At the same time suggested that surveillance equipment for effective monitoring to address smuggling be installed.

The representatives also enjoined the government to expand its plan on youths empowerment programmes by developing skill acquisition programmes in border areas.

Although, the House acknowledged that the federal government has the powers, under section 18 of the Customs and Excise Management Act, to restrict the movement of goods into the country either by land or inland waterways, the motion  noted that such exercise on importation of Rice had occasioned untold hardship on Nigerians.

The member representing Gwadabawa / Illela. State of Sokoto state, Abdulahi Balarabe, and  Salame in the motion noted that the ban will cause more arm than good as it will certainly lead to increase in smuggling and deprive poor Nigerians access to vehicles at the same time skyrocket the price of vehicles.

“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 – N23, 000 as against N8000 a few months ago,” he said.

Salome observed in the motion  that the statistics of Nigerians who could afford cars had declined drastically, following the decline in the venue of naira, inflation, unemployment and high cost of living.

He also noted that government did not provide an alternative measure to ensure that Nigerians will have access to cars since it is cheaper to buy from neighbouring countries.

He also said that the policy would further increase suffering of the masses in the current dwindling economic fortune.

“Despite the pitiable state of most Nigerians, occasioned by unemployment, lack if funds for survival and high cost of living, which has sent many into their early grave. The government is adopting a policy that will further increase the suffering of the masses at this critical time the country is in recession,” Salame added. ‎