Freight forwarders and imported vehicle dealers have scored former President Goodluck Jonathan administration low on policies on importation of vehicles even as they added that his tenure brought hardship to those who are in the business of vehicle clearance, vehicle importation and vehicle sales.
A cross section of the operators however submitted that the extension of vehicles age limit from ten to 15 years in 2011 was a major pass mark for the erstwhile president.
Freight forwarders and imported vehicle dealers have scored former President Goodluck Jonathan administration low on policies on importation of vehicles even as they added that his tenure brought hardship to those who are in the business of vehicle clearance, vehicle importation and vehicle sales.
A cross section of the operators however submitted that the extension of vehicles age limit from ten to 15 years in 2011 was a major pass mark for the erstwhile president.
However the dealers and clearing agents also advised the new government to put in place measures that can boost vehicle importation in Nigeria.
A member of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr Frank Aliakor in a chat with Auto Port Weekly in Lagos last week said that the ex-president in his first two years in office did wonderfully well by increasing age limit of vehicles from 10 to 15 years.
The Apapa-based ANLCA stalwart reiterated that the introduction of the new automotive policy in 2013 created many problems for the president Goodluck Jonathan administration.
He added that during the first two years of Jonathan’s administration, business of vehicle importation, clearance and sales experience enjoyed a boom, adding that traders, importers and dealers were all comfortable with government policy in vehicle importation and seaport operations generally.
Aliakor said that when duty payment on imported vehicles was eventually hiked up by government on account of the automotive policy, operators became apprehensive.
He further recalled that many dealers, agents and importers dump the business of vehicle importation to Nigeria because of the president’s policy on automobile.
Assessing the ex-president, Aliakor said he did all that is necessary for vehicle manufacturing in Nigeria to succeed, but the increase in duty payable on imported vehicle was a major challenge for importers.
He said "in all ramifications, I think the ex-president did well and at least I can score him 55% in line with the policy and vehicle.
"It was in the later period of his administration we will say we are not comfortable with because of the hike in duty payable on vehicles", he opined.
Meanwhile, a dealer at the Berger Motor, Mr. Robert Onuigbo said that the Jonathan administration made things difficult for importers and dealers.
The dealer added that the Nigeria experienced a massive drop of vehicle importation during Jonathan's administration, adding it also created hardship for the nation.
He noted that the Jonathan administration mishandled the policy surrounding vehicles importation into the country, stressing the need for President Muhammadu Buhari administration to create an enabling environment for vehicle import business to thrive.
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