When the rich lament about the ban of car importation through land border, I always understand their plight. However, for the average Nigerian that intends to buy that 2003 Toyota Camry… You need not worry because you didn’t even have any real benefit before the ban.

Reasons car importation through land border was banned:

1. Only Politicians and Top Government Officials truly benefitted:
These guys smuggle brand new cars through the land border like pure water. In 2014, I went to Ilaro for the first time and slept over. You won’t believe over 100 brand new Land Cruiser and Prado SUVs were smuggled into the country through that route that day. The vehicles came in around 6 pm and were parked in a large compound until they departed at midnight. The residents told me most of those cars were going to Abuja. As the owner of the compound was an official smuggler for the politicians.

2. Corruption, Leakages and Smuggling:
You do not want to imagine how much corruption has been going on at that Seme border. The Custom officials are just getting richer at the expense of the country.

Leakages and pillages everywhere. Custom exploiting smugglers and smugglers killing Custom officials in return. It has even become a battle field with over 70 Custom officers killed in 2016 alone.

3. Double Duty Makes an Cotonou Cars More Expensive:
Are you among those who think Cotonou cars are cheaper? Wake up, It’s a myth.

This is the logic. Cars in Cotonou are not sourced from space. They are imported from USA, Canada and Europe. This means, Lagos and Cotonou bound cars are bought from the same market… at similar prices. Shipping cost is also not different.. I know this because I have shipped to both locations. So how can a Cotonou car be cheaper? The answers are simple:

-- Some greedy Nigerian car dealers add excessive profit margin on their cars. Compared to Cotonou dealers who focus on quick sales turnover.
-- Partial or total evasion of import duty at the land border.

If you buy a 2003 Toyota Camry from Cotonou, you will pay 500,000 Cefa as import duty to Benin Republic government. You will also pay another import duty to the Nigeria government if you follow the legal route. Both duties will not be less than N600k. Obviously, that’s higher than the N435k you will pay at TINCAN or Apapa port in Lagos. Thanks to the car crossers (Fayawo drivers) who help cross the cars at little or zero duty.

Note: The 500,000 Cefa duty in Cotonou is usually a flat fee so it is insignificant to importers of expensive and exotic cars. So, a 2016 G-Wagon owner will prefer to smuggle through Cotonou with N2 million instead of paying N21 million in Apapa port.

4. Locally Assembled Cars:
The bigwigs that smuggle these exotic cars can as well buy brand new cars that are assembled in Nigeria. Federal Government wants them to patronise Innoson Motors, Peugeot Nigeria, Stallion Motors, Eastern Vehicle Assembling Limited (EVAL) etc. This will create jobs and reduce the demand for dollar.

5. Add Your Own:
Tell us your own reason why you think car importation through land border should or should not be banned.

https://autojosh.com/car-importation-through-land-border/

Cc
Lalasticlala
Mynd44
Ishilove
Marpol
Semid4lyfe
Obinoscopy

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gullible excuses from the dullard. Happney65; can you imagine? Do we complain of bn too expensive? #yeye

That is the world dullest president way of diversifying the economy.


The Senate should quickly impeach and sack KEMI ADEOSUN, what kind of dull minister of finance is she....

this policy has its pros and cons

pros

if cars are imported through our boarder, it would not only create revenue for this broke govt but the spill over would get to the boys working in the wharf,the car washer, the road mechanic, the spare Part dealer etc

due to the abysmal fall in the naira, cars sold in Benin would almost be equal to the in Nigeria, the difference is the relative increase Incustom tarrifs that Nigerians charge based on the price of the vehicle


it would make the work of sorting out snuggled vehicles less cumbersome because once they see relatively new cars coming or cars being driven in a convoy, its a red flag

hopefully the process of clearing goods at the port would undergo major reorganisation and overhauling to make it less stressful

cons

it doesn't tell obey the ECOWAS treaty for the free movement of goods across the subregion

it may cause the custom guys to be more corrupt and exploit people using the ports because they know they have no option

These reasons are not genuine.

This doesn't make sense to me, I brought in my car through cotonou and paid all duties on the car. All your reasons further buttress the fact that we have an irresponsible government. Have u ever heard of land-locked countries? these countries do not have access to sea, thereby import everything through land borders. Will such countries shut down land borders due to leakages as well?

The Government is simply telling us our land borders are porous and there is nothing they can do about it. its the height of irresponsibility. This policy will only make the already jam-packed Apapa port more congested.

Information is power.tnx op

I

If the ban will make our economy better, that's alright.

I will be back.

I have nothing to say, i don't import cars, i drive them.

hope is favorable to common Nigerians

One sure thing is the ban won't stop smuggling. It will as a matter of fact only make those Custom Bosses / Officials richer.

i like d way it was banned 4us 2knw what we are capable of with our product. #Godblessnigeria

Those in power knows about all these leakages,but deliberately left it open to favor them,and give crumbs to the public..

To me,it's a good move in right direction.

Ah ya ya ya ya I keep on hoping we'll eat cake by the ocean #FunkyRock

How many people will buy innosson when cars like Toyota, Hyundai, Honda keep coming with different specs and modification..if the op were to be asked to choose between innosson and Toyota product...which would you choose?

We're all hypocrites in Nigeria. ...
Both the politicians and we the people. ..

The Kenyan government has mastered their art when it comes to car importation. All cars that are meant for their roads must come through their sea port as the vehicle is issued plate number while being cleared at the port.

Going to Tanzania, which is like going to Cotonu to buy cars is cheaper but you are expected to register that car in Tanzania before driving it into Kenya and then the car would be treated as a foreign car and by the time you will be regularly paying some crazy charges for driving a Tanzanian registered car in Kenya, you will not try to be smart again!

As much as it is for the betterment of the country
What happens to the hundreds of dealers that patronize Cotonou legitimately
The tariffs at Nigeria port is way to high, if it's reduced many ppl will rather ship through our port.

The problem with the Buhari administration is that he wants to cut off his nose to spite his face.
If you make such wholesome policies just to tackle the "rich who are benefiting", the ripple effect trickles down to the poor who don't have as much cash to absorb the shock.
Just take a look at similar policies viz : fuel subsidy, dollar ish, 49 items banned etc

wagazala:
One sure thing is the ban won't stop smuggling. It will as a matter of fact only make those Custom Bosses / Officials richer.

if Buhari say so ,it will be completely accomplished

Seme and Idiroko take note.

Bbg

MyMouth:
I have nothing to say, i don't import cars, i drive them.

It should bother u bro since u drive too. U wouldn't understand now until when that one u drive is tired and need to be changed.

The main reason is that this govt is confused and helpless!

searching for excuses

kolnel:
As much as it is for the betterment of the country
What happens to the hundreds of dealers that patronize Cotonou legitimately
The tariffs at Nigeria port is way to high, if it's reduced many ppl will rather ship through our port.

This is what I was expecting not all these buhari is this buhari is that like the two immediate posts above.
Thumb up bro.

While double duty might affect the cost, Cotonou imports are always cheaper

Eziokwu !?

Because Buhari is greedy and doesn't want poor or avarage Nigerian to drive car except the rich