Dr. Zebulon Ikokide (President NIFFCB)
Dr. Zebulon Ikokide (President NIFFCB)
I don't have any doubt about the fact that the automotive policy will affect port business and even the economy as a whole. The auto policy in question is for the overall interest of the economy for tomorrow. I don't think we should rely on importations of cars forever. As Nigerians, there is the need to have Nigerian brands that we can call our own. The truth is that if people divert their attention from vehicle importation, it will improve the demands for the locally made cars. It’s a gradual thing because I believe that, in no distance time the vehicles that are manufactured in the country will be more recognised and reliable than what we import as used cars from overseas. I strongly support the government for the policy and the duty hike will not affect port operations, the policy will also make the freight agents to look inward and shift their attention to other importation through diversification.
Lucky Amiwero (President NCMDLCA)
The auto policy will only make the port system to suffer and it will also run many people out of business. This same policy will increase the cost of transportation, and the cost of goods in the market will increase and many shipping companies will relocate their businesses from Nigeria to neighbouring ports, thereby creating massive job loss to the industry and the economy.
Comrade Pius David (Stakeholder)
The policy will definitely cripple activities at the ports, because ships destined for Nigeria will be diverted to other ports, many Nigerians will be thrown out of business and above all, revenue generation for government will be slashed. Cargo throughput will be affected greatly, posing danger for the economy of the country. We are not ripe for the policy; the government needs to go back to the drawing board,because the policy does not augur well for port operations and the operators.
Collins Mordi (KLT Chairman NCMDLCA)
Implementation of the policy is not a bad one, but the problem we have is that they fail to carry us along. There is need for the government to put square pegs in square holes. The port operators are complaining that their business is not moving as a result of the policy because they were not carried along. The level of local manufacturing in Nigeria is zero and there is need for government to look towards that direction.
Prince Olayiwola Shittu (ANLCA President)
You want to be assembling vehicles in Nigeria with parts made elsewhere, as long as we continue this, the economy out there is growing while ours will be stagnant because most assembly plants use robots, so they have less workers. Government should encourage the manufacturers of parts rather than just being sellers; the equipment for manufacturing should be brought in duty free. The idea of putting 70% duty on vehicles is like punishing the people; it should have been done over a period of five years so that as our manufacturing capacity is increasing, graduated duty will be placed on used vehicles.
Godson Chibunduchukwu (PRO, Tin Can NAGAFF)
The auto policy is already affecting the maritime industry, it is not good to put a square peg in a round hole, the auto policy is good, but there are certain things that need to be watched before introducing such policies. It is about local manufacturers and those who want to assemble vehicles locally in order to boost local production, it is not a wrong notion, but they should have started the production before government will increase duty on importation of vehicles. Right now there is a terrible drop in cargo importation while Cotonou port is booming.
Olisa Agbakoba (Senior Advocate of Nigeria)
Nigeria still does not have the framework for car manufacturing, government is supposed to create a clause that will phase out the importation of used cars over a period of five years, but before that time, in order to encourage Nigerians to own cars, the average price of vehicles should be reduced against what is obtainable in Cotonou, this will kill the Cotonou market because Nigeria has the numbers. If I were the president, I will lower tariffs so that cars can flood here cheaply, but this is not happening, rather, the government is talking about 70%, but all that will happen is that smuggling of cars from Cotonou will go up.
Nnuekwe Hyginus (PRO NCMDLCA)
There is no way the policy will not affect port operations; because it will reduce the number of rickety vehicles that are being imported into Nigeria. The duty on cars in Ghana is low, but they have a way of controlling the level of cars imported into the country. You hardly get rickety vehicles in their ports. They don't encourage such and we are working toward that trend as well. The road in Nigeria are anti- tokunbo cars and that is why I believe that the government policy on cars should focus more on duty payable on new cars, it should be reduced. This will encourage better vehicles to come into the country. As for me, I support the government policy, there is no threat to our ports in terms of business and above all it is for the overall interest of the economy.
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