From Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Sokoto State chapter of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON) has appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider its position of the continued ban on importation of vehicles across the land borders, saying the restriction is not only causing untold hardship but also contributing to insecurity in the North West region.
Making their plea during a sensitization workshop with its members by the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Services, the motor dealers maintained that despite the decision by the Federal Government to ban importation of vehicles via land borders might seems good, its negative economic impact of the lives of many that are into the business immense.
According to AMDON, rather than a ban on vehicle importation, the Federal Government should provide designated Commands for formalization of registration by all registered vehicle importers.
“We are further pleading with the Federal Government to extend its magnanimity by lifting the restriction of importation of vehicle through land borders as the closure has caused untold hardship and loss of means of livelihood to thousands working in the vehicle importation chain, thereby contributing to the insecurity in the Northwest,” the Sokoto AMDON chairman noted.
Addressing AMDON members earlier, the Area Comptroller Sokoto/Zamfara Command, Kamal Mohammed said the aim of the workshop was to, amongst others, sensitize them on the 90-day window of grace given by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to enable them and motor owners regularize their registration of vehicles without customs duty.
While acknowledging that AMDON members are critical stakeholders considering the critical roles they play in the vehicle business, Comptroller Mohammed stated that the 90-day window period which commenced on the 4th of March 2024 to 5th of July 2024 was the service’s effort to enhance compliance.
He noted that AMDON members will be sensitized on the two categories of vehicle covered by the window period which include vehicles imported into Nigeria where the requisite Customs Duty has not been fulfilled or vehicles detained due to undervaluation, excluding vehicles seized and condemned.
A statement by the spokesperson of Area Command, Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Tsafe, quoted Comptroller Mohammed as urging participants and other Nigerians intending to regularize import duties on their vehicles to apply through a Customs licensed Agent to any of the Zonal Coordinators (A,B,C,D) with the necessary papers.
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