Nigerian importers, especially those from the maritime industry, have called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to scrap the National Automotive Council [NAC] due to its non performance on Nigerian automobile sector.
The stakeholders also called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission [EFFC] to monitor and investigate the account of the Council.
Nigerian importers, especially those from the maritime industry, have called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to scrap the National Automotive Council [NAC] due to its non performance on Nigerian automobile sector.
The stakeholders also called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission [EFFC] to monitor and investigate the account of the Council.
The importers who spoke with our correspondent under anonymity lamented the dues being levied on them by the council on all imported vehicles into the Nigeria for decades, according to them, the levy is suppose to be used to encourage local manufacturers and to discourage importation of vehicles.
They have however said that the purpose of collecting the money is not being felt among the local operators in the country.
The importers are demanding to know how the funds are being spent on local operators since there has been no awareness on how the council in assisting the indigenous operators or how it is promoting the automobile sector of the economy.
Some of them also argued that apart from the 2% of Cost Insurance Freight (CIF) collected on imported vehicles into Nigeria, the council which was established 19 years ago to encourage local manufacturers has done nothing to encourage indigenous operators.
Some of the importers who spoke with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week have however called for the scrapping of the agency as the purpose of its establishment by the Federal Government has been defeated.
An automobile importer, Chief Agbai Kalu who spoke with our correspondent last week said that the agency has done nothing to record progress in the automobile sector even though there are lots of people willing to come up with ideas that can give Nigeria its own brand.
Kalu argued that scrapping of the agency will aid the federal government to focus more in the area of setting up assembling plant in the country and to even create platforms for Nigerian engineers who want to thrive in the manufacturing of vehicles.
He also reiterated that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission [EFCC] needs to monitor and investigate the council’s account. He charged the government to probe any executive of the council that is found wanting.
In his words,’’Government should scrap the agency because they are not living up to expectation as regards the establishment of the council and I think they should also come out to tell Nigeria how they have been able to encourage Nigerians since its establishment’’
‘’It is important for EFCC to be invited and monitor how they spend and disburse cash to individuals because nothing or whatsoever has been achieved by the council’’, Kalu stated
‘’We have people who have the potentials to manufacture cars in the country but since there is nobody that can assist them and we have a body saddled with the responsibility to empower the Nigerian youth who have some thing to offer in the automobile sector of the economy are being deprived, I must say that the council should not be in existence’’, he lamented.
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