Clearing agents operating from the PTML terminal in Apapa Lagos, are not finding things easy at the moment as they have complained bitterly of low importation of vehicles by importers.
The dealers, who spoke on their challenges to our correspondents in PTML terminal, Apapa, Lagos, said that the business of vehicle importation is not booming as before. They also said that before now, they used to see at least 2,400-2,80 units of vehicles on each ship that comes into the terminal, but now the reverse is the case.
A member of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Custom Agents, ANLCA, who pleaded anonymity, said that they now scramble to get a job unlike before. “Before now, importation of cars was never less than 2,400-2,800 cars on each ship that comes into this terminal and they ships comes in regularly. But now, you see 100 to 150 cars and you will see agents scrambling to get one to do. I also blame the ban on importation of vehicles through land borders as one of the major causes of this. If the government bans land importation of vehicles and makes other ways of importing vehicles very favourable, it will boost the economy but that is not the situation here. That is the problem we are having here”, he said.
Another clearing agent who identified himself as Mr. Jonathan said: “The situation is so worrisome. Businesses are not going here, people sit from morning till; evening doing nothing, ports are empty no container coming in. The government should do something about. The level of vehicle importation into this country has dropped between 40-50% and it’s very bad. ” he concluded.
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