Even as stakeholders in the nation’s car importation and clearing business are still apprehensive about the effect of the Federal Government’s automotive policy on them, there are strong indications that the policy’s implementing agency; the National Automotive Council (NAC) may have finally secured an inroad into the nation’s maritime industry.
Even as stakeholders in the nation’s car importation and clearing business are still apprehensive about the effect of the Federal Government’s automotive policy on them, there are strong indications that the policy’s implementing agency; the National Automotive Council (NAC) may have finally secured an inroad into the nation’s maritime industry.
The NAC has been under serious criticism by stakeholders, and had also been directly attacked by the duo of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF).
The two associations had even openly placed ‘public notices’ in selected newspaper (including Shipping Position Daily, in which they queried the rationale behind the auto policy implementation, including the aspect which seeks to increase duty and also introduce levy on imported used vehicles.
However, our correspondents confirmed last week that after the two-phased public notices, the Minister of Trade and Investments; Dr Olusegun Aganga directed the director general of NAC to meet with the the two associations.
It was confirmed that the meeting actually held at the office of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council about two weeks ago and that, both presidents of ANLCA and NAGAFF; Prince Olayiwola Shittu and Chief Eugene Nweke respectively attended the meeting.
It was learnt that at the meeting, the two associations reiterated their opposition to the implementation of the new auto policy, and specifically requested for the reconstitution of the implementation committee.
Our source confirmed that they requested that both ANLCA and NAGAFF be included in the committee, a request that was said to have been granted in principle by the director general.
While, the NAGAFF president confirmed that the meeting actually held, he did not give further details about what transpired, even though he said that, “it appears that the policy is reversible”.
He confirmed that the NAC boss told them that the auto policy had reached a point- of –no- return and that President Goodluck Jonathan had given assurances to the international community about the Nigerian auto policy and that a lot of manufacturers are already committing themselves to the policy, so it is difficult to revert.
Our sources however hinted that the leadership of two associations may have been talked into accepting the policy and its implementation modalities once their request for inclusion into the committee is ratified.
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