A stakeholder Sunny Ugorji at Port and Terminal Multiservices Ltd (PTML) Terminal in Lagos, who specialises in clearing imported vehicles, said that the Customs policy has led to a reduction in the volume of vehicles imported into the country.

According to him, Customs Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) policy, which requires cars from the 2013 model down to 2000 to pay the same import duty, has automatically resulted in a reduction in bringing used vehicles into the country.

“Accidented cars that used to enjoy about 50 per cent rebate in the past now pay the same import duty with cars that are in good condition. The money used in clearing vehicles is now costlier than the money used in buying the Tokunbo car oversea. I am currently processing a Volkswagen Golf that Customs gave an import duty of over N700,000. This was the same car that dealers used to clear with just N300,000.
“These were cars dealers used to buy with $1,500 and when the cost of shipment is added, it will amount to about $2,000, which was why a 2005 and below models of Toyota Camry that used to go for N1.6 million before, now cost about N3.5 million today,” Ugorji said.

Pointing out that dealers are leaving the car importation business because of unfavourable government policies, he said that before the VIN policy, importers of accidented vehicles used to get between 40 to 50 percent rebate.

Citing an example, he said that an importer of a car with N500, 000 import duty would almost get a rebate of N250,000 if proven to be an accidented but the new policy has made it compulsory for everybody to pay the 2013 duty.

“This is why volume is declining as ships go to Cotonou Port to discharge about 4,000 vehicles only for the same ship to come to Nigeria with only about 80 units of cars but close to 90 percent of the 4,000 units of cars in Cotonou Port would still find their way to Nigeria despite the ban on the importation of cars through the land borders.


“This is the middle of October, which is about two months to Christmas and the volume of imports remains low. This goes to show a lull in business activities at the port. In the past, this is the time dealers bring in a lot of used cars for buyers who are waiting for Christmas.

“Presently, over 20,000 units of cars are currently trapped at the port since the new Customs Policy, and the government is planning to auction them at ridiculous prices,” he said.

While saying that the government is tightening the knot in such a way that the importation business is suffering, he urged the government to look into the complaints of importers by making policies that are business-friendly.

“Instead of auctioning the over 20,000 vehicles abandoned in the port for over six months that the new Customs policy started, the government can give the importers a special window to pay affordable duties,” he said.

https://www.carmart.ng/public/blog/car-import-has-declined-over-customs-unfriendly-policy/

Abokis want us to go back to using horses and camels for mobility... Very anyhow policies by the government of the day.

The closed down boarders claiming they want to encourage local patronage of our local productions but here we are... do we still have the comparative advantage in vehicular productions?

They don't want car older than 10 years to be brought into the country,and they discourage accidented cars . I think both policies are not really bad in the real sense of it ,knowing fully well we have a bad maintenance and repair culture

This is a very serious issue ..... And yet we have limited options

We no want old cars
nor accidental crap way oyibo don even write off..U come buy, fix and paint & sell am like new despite knowing d structural integrity is comprised.....I like this new custom law.....Now only if they could block land smuggling otherwise it's all shyt

Elsueno:
We no want old cars
nor accidental crap way oyibo don even write off..U come buy, fix and paint & sell am like new despite knowing d structural integrity is comprised.....I like this new custom law.....Now only if they could block land smuggling otherwise it's all shyt

Lol, you're funny o

So who told you the new cars that will all be the ones oyibo never write off and the ones without structural integrity compromised

Keep liking the new customs law, you're probably out of the market for a car in the short term and that's why you talk and sound the way you do

Have it at the back of your mind, majority of Nigerians are not so financially comfortable and it's getting worse, you're probably rejoicing to the fact many won't join you to answer "car owner" soon, we know your type

valarinz:


Lol, you're funny o

So who told you the new cars that will all be the ones oyibo never write off and the ones without structural integrity compromised

Keep liking the new customs law, you're probably out of the market for a car in the short term and that's why you talk and sound the way you do

Have it at the back of your mind, majority of Nigerians are not so financially comfortable and it's getting worse, you're probably rejoicing to the fact many won't join you to answer "car owner" soon, we know your type

Bros e be like say dis law affected u Woh...but personally I don't care about people owning cars... Anybody way wan buy car, I pray to God to provide U d means to buy a good one & enjoy not refurbished accidental...Amen. Remember always do a vin check

An outright ban on accidented cars should suffice, motor whitey don use spoil patapata ,black man go package am sell as toks for him broda,likeplay likeplay dem go dey play Russian roulette with their lives driving condemn car.but still the import duty too cost o

Elsueno:


Bros e be like say dis law affected u Woh...but personally I don't care about people owning cars... Anybody way wan buy car, I pray to God to provide U d means to buy a good one & enjoy not refurbished accidental...Amen. Remember always do a vin check

Yes of course it affected me, the fact you find it a cause to mock and celebrate is more reason for concern...

Lends more credence to my earlier thoughts about your kind. The glee you feel to know that many folks won't be joining you to drive cars, smh

Mock all you care though, everyone will buy and sell what they can afford, accident or not, the circle will keep revolving. Repent from your sadistic ways, when govt policies put the masses at a very bad corner, don't come to the public to gloat because you think you've scaled the hurdle

This is a wicked policy

valarinz:


Yes of course it affected me, the fact you find it a cause to mock and celebrate is more reason for concern...

Lends more credence to my earlier thoughts about your kind. The glee you feel to know that many folks won't be joining you to drive cars, smh

Mock all you care though, everyone will buy and sell what they can afford, accident or not, the circle will keep revolving. Repent from your sadistic ways, when govt policies put the masses at a very bad corner, don't come to the public to gloat because you think you've scaled the hurdle

I don't care if U feel mocked or think I am sadistic, d fact u think selling accidental vehicles is cool beacuse it makes u money is wrong..There is something I am very proud of in my life, I have never knowingly sold something to someone dat increases thier chance of dying just because 'dats what they can afford'.. Yes, customs should make sure bringing accidental crap is no longer profitable for greedy folks like u....

FYI, I don't care about who drives, flies or trek...fact is na God dey provide, I pray he provides my fellow country people d means to afford a nice tokunbo/new or Nigerian used & d wisdom to see through deceptive dealers who try to push accidental crap on them..Amen

Elsueno:


I don't care if U feel mocked or think I am sadistic, d fact u think selling accidental vehicles is cool beacuse it makes u money is wrong..There is something I am very proud of in my life, I have never knowingly sold something to someone dat increases thier chance of dying just because 'dats what they can afford'.. Yes, customs should make sure bringing accidental crap is no longer profitable for greedy folks like u....

FYI, I don't care about who drives, flies or trek...fact is na God dey provide, I pray he provides my fellow country people d means to afford a nice tokunbo/new or Nigerian used & d wisdom to see through deceptive dealers who try to push accidental crap on them..Amen

All these rants, it's not like you've even bought one of the so-called accident cars from me, pls go and rest somewhere, won't dignify you with a response anymore