Three years after the auto policy was introduced by the Federal Government, clearing agents in the nation’s seaports have accused Nigeria's acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo of making false promise to stakeholders during the 2015 electioneering campaigns.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week, a clearing agent and top member of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Mr. Ganiu Adeola alleged that Osinbajo had in June 2015 in the wake of the presidential elections promised to reverse the auto policy.
He however lamented that three years after, importers and clearing agents are still paying 70% tariff on vehicles.
Adeola also recalled that the auto policy was made overnight about a year to the 2015 election, describing it as a kangaroo policy that was used to generate money for elections.
He noted that stakeholders cannot continue paying 35% duty and 35% levy on vehicles.
"When APC was campaigning, Osinbajo (acting President) promised us, he even stated categorically that Nigeria is not ripe for locally-made vehicles and that the facilities are not on ground, most importantly electricity"
"The duty we are paying on used vehicle is too high, he promised us that the APC government would bring down the duty payment on automobile when they resume office. But to my supprise they are more than two years now and we have not seen any changes in policy"
"Suddenly the Customs collects 70% tariff on brand new vehicle, 35% duty and 35% levy and up till now it has remained like that"
"On used vehicles, formerly it was 10% duty as fixed by Babangida era for anything commercial vehicles while agricultural equipment was free duty and luxury cars was 15% and it's the highest"
"All vehicles have now been categorised at 35 percent either commercial or luxury", he said.
Adeola implored President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the auto policy because this is not the promise of his administration to maritime industry operators.
He said that it is a pity that now that the vice president is the Acting President and Chairman of the economic planning committee, everything lands on his table and yet he has failed to make policy statement on the auto policy.
Discussion about this post