Business
Customs boss reveals real reason govt banned car import by land
The Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) Col. Hameed Ali (retd) has thrown more light on why government took the step of banning importation of cars through the country’s land borders.
Ali disclosed that the Federal Government’s move was targeted at stopping illegal entry of firearms into the country.
The Custom CG stated this on Thursday while speaking to newsmen after the International Customs Day celebration at the service’s Staff and Command College, Abuja.
He said, “We have discovered that through the importation of cars through the land borders, arms and ammunition are being squeezed into these cars and brought into the country. We cannot allow that. Apart from the economic aspect of it, I think security is fundamentally the reason behind what we are doing with regard to that policy.”
Read also: Transparency Int’l rates anti-corruption war in Nigeria ineffective
He explained that government wants to tighten the nation’s security and boost its economy.
‘We want to bring back the money that is being exported to other countries. Most especially, we want to tighten the security of this great country”, he said.
The ban on importation of car through land borders became effective since the beginning of January.
Many analysts have continued to criticise the policy on the argument that it has rendered thousands of Nigerians jobless amidst the present unprecedented economic hardship facing Nigeria since the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
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Animashaun Ayodeji
January 27, 2017 at 4:20 pm
The intentions are clear. It was very important the federal government stopped importation of automobiles by road, they’ve turned the importation it into a means of smuggling illegal objects into the country.
Balarabe musa
January 27, 2017 at 4:31 pm
Yes , smuggling you say, but at least it makes middle class to afford a car , can a middle class afford a car for now?
Johnson Amadi
January 27, 2017 at 4:24 pm
Some policies of this government are veri good when it comes to security, I wish this can also be applied to develop our economy. Instead of our economy to be flourishing as security strengthens, it is declining instead. What is the use of good security when the economy is terribly bad?
JOHNSON PETER
January 27, 2017 at 8:35 pm
What security are they tighten up . With all their security measures, people still smuggle cars inside the country by the time they bribe those gullible custom officers on the road. So what’s the heck?
yanju omotodun
January 27, 2017 at 8:50 pm
That is true but it is not easy for car dealers to smuggle in cars again unlike before. So with time, no body will be able to smuggle things because truly it is part of ways boko harams are smuggling in arms and ammunitions. I support the ban too.