A clearing agent, Mr. Toochukwu Nwaigbo, has said that the reason most Nigerians vehicle importers deal on damaged vehicles manufactured between 2003 and 2006 is because most of them are sold at give-away prices overseas.
Nwaigbo, who disclosed this in a chat with Shipping Position Daily at Tin Can Island port last week, also said that it also creates job for Nigerians as it will engage artisans that will put the vehicles in a good position before they are finally sold out.
When Shipping Position Daily visited the Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML), last week, it was observed that more than 80% of the imported vehicles leaving the port have one dent or the other.
He also said that the duty payable on these vehicles are the major reasons there seems to be inflow of mostly damaged vehicles into the country.
“The increase in the importation of damaged vehicles in Nigeria is as a result of the economy because those vehicles are almost written-off abroad. But because they are being sold at a give-away price and Nigerians being what they are, we buy them like that and give jobs to our people through the repair of such vehicles. Also in the cost of the clearing they get into debate as for the duty and after repairing the cars, they will sell them off. That is why you see them here. If you check out the number of cars that come in here daily you will find out that most of them are Toyota Corolla between 2003 and 2006 models just because they are very cheap over there and the demand here is high”, he explained.
One of the car dealers at Tin-Can 2nd gate who refused to disclose his name, said most buyers like to buy the car and repair it themselves than buying the one already repaired and put up as samples for sale.
He also lauded the importers of damaged vehicles, saying that it is another means of creating jobs for Nigerians.
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