“Nigeria Has Gone Beyond The Level Of Importing Fairly Used Vehicles”…Chief Metche (President, United Berger Motor Dealers Association)
Since we introduced the Auto Port page, Shipping Position Weekly has been having more interactions with importers and dealers of Tokunboh vehicles. The page has given us an insight into the intrigues and secrets of that business. Our first attempt to interview Chief Metche Nnadiekwe last year did not yield results. So, our Auto Port man, Roland Ekana eventually tracked him down last week. Chief Nnadiekwe spoke in his capacity as an importer of and dealer in fairly used vehicles and also as the president of United Berger Motor Dealers Association.
May we know you sir?
My name is Honourable Metche Nnadiekwe. I am the President General of United Berger Motor Dealers Association, along Apapa – Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.
Tell us about your educational background?
Well, I went to school like every other person; primary school, secondary school and I also went to the University; Lagos State University, precisely. I did a diploma course in Public Administration.
What prompted you in to the business?
I will like to say that the business is in the family, we grew up to meet the business, we took it up from there because of the love I personally have for cars too. I decided to maintain the business and initially every member of the family were into the business; but the personal interests that I have in it is want made me to stick to it, and I have been into this business for long.
How long have you been in the business?
In all, I have been in this business for 28 years now, remember that I said it runs in the family and for that reason I am not a boy in the industry. I have come a long way in the business.
Can you please tell us your challenges as a dealer and importer of automobiles?
First of all, one of the challenges that we are facing has to do with the age of vehicles that the government place banned on. We know that our country Nigeria does not manufacture vehicles, in other words, we not a manufacturing nation and coupled with the large number of people in the country and we don’t have enough vehicles for everybody. As a result of that, everywhere on the road, you find a large number of people at the bus stop. The high tariff on these imported vehicles is another problem we are facing.
What is your take on the recent review of age barrier for imported vehicles from 10 years to 15 years?
By the time it was 10 years, we came up with a resolution as the stakeholders in the business and I try to give them advice because it will not be good. Yes they are the government, but the government is for the people and by the people. Because we know the facts, we try to contribute our input by trying to advice them, we said to ourselves that we shouldn’t let it not look as if we are just there hanging, because government also makes a lot of mistakes by not carrying the stakeholders in the business along; when they want to introduce certain policies in a system, you should be able to carry the people who the policies are being made for along or you hear from them and see how it will affect them at the end of the day. Because this country does not manufacture vehicles and since the Government is not ready for ways to encourage manufacturing of vehicles in the country, there is no need to place a ban or restriction on age of vehicles that are being imported into the country. What the government should do is to concentrate on the maintenance and repair of Nigerian roads because the fairly used vehicles plying the Nigerian road need to last longer .So the government should not place ban on importation on fairly used vehicles irrespective of age, rather emphasis should be on how to manufacture a Nigerian car. The auto dealers are contributing to the growth of this country because from there the automobile engineer eat ,the panel beaters eat, the electrician eats ,the elect eats, the car wash also feed from the industry and even the Customs. So, it’s a business that the Federal Government should not toy with and as a matter of fact because one has been in it and one has also seen the effect and what it does to this country, I mean the progress it has brought to the nation. I will also thank the government for the extension, because it is a relief on our part and we have been hammering on the issue for long and we cannot fold our hands and see things deteriorating to a stupid level and thank God that we have a President who has the fear of God ,who listens to the voice and the cry of the people and I think that led to the change of mind by taking it to 15years where we are now
What is you expectation for the year 2011 as regards the automobile sector?
I am believing God for a wonderful year because now there is a man called Innocent from Nnewi who has show that we can do it by manufacturing a car or bus of his own and we want the Federal Government to encourage such people and encourage other people too that will deem it fit to follow suit so at the end of the day, we should be proud to say that we have a plant here that manufactures these vehicles instead of depending on finished products at all times. Even if it is a ‘Picanto’ car or a Volkswagen or Peugeot, I mean we should have something of our own because Nigeria is a very big country.
Who is Innocent from Nnewi?
He is a young entrepreneur who is about to manufacture his cars and buses
Which port or Customs command do the dealers in your park clear their vehicles from?
We have a port that is very close us here, the Tincan Island Port and the Apapa Port and that is why this place is good for the business. Once it is cleared at the port, they bring it over to the park so that buyers can come down to make their choice. As a result of proximity to the seaport, this is the biggest Tokunboh market.
As the President of the Association to what level have you been able to address the issue of sale of smuggled vehicles in the park?
We discourage our members from smuggling, because when you do that you are not helping this country to grow and such a person who engages in smuggling can bring it to this park because before any vehicle comes in here there is a committee that must go through the vehicle documents and screen them and make sure that it was cleared genuinely before it will be allowed to come into the park
Berger is one of the biggest Tokunboh Markets in Africa, but we have observed that it is losing its customers to smaller places like Ikeja, Surulere and Festac Town
You can’t rule that out. It is just like when Eko Hotel and Suites is the biggest hotel in Lagos state does mean that the smaller ones will not exist, they have the right to exist. Some people may not have the chance and time to come to Berger and as a result may see a very good vehicle by their door step and make do with it .Some of the dealers in Ikeja ,Surulere ,Festac ,Lekki come to Berger to buy and sell in their respective areas.
What do you understand by under payment?
Underpayment is when you bring a product or vehicle and there is a particular amount you are supposed to pa as a Customs duty to the Federal Government and you try to avert it by trying to connive or conspire with some government agents not to pay the correct duty.
What is your relationship with the Customs like?
As far as I am concerned as the President of the automobile market, one has been having a cordial relationship with Customs; the present and the former comptrollers are wonderful. From time to time, we have our meetings, they try to guide us and tell us what to do and what not to do, and they have been helpful with their advice
What is you take on the proliferation of Customs formations and personnel on our roads?
That is the area that we really have to talk about because it look likes an embarrassment to the nation. We have borders and entrances where these vehicles are supposed to be cleared from, but one will begin to see customs officers on the highway; stopping vehicles, demanding for one paper or the other, then it is giving the nation a bad image. I continue to advice them because there is a better way to do these things so that it will not affect innocent Nigerians who are ignorant about the customs on the high way. Because of the duty that is so high, some smart Nigerians will want to take the short cut. I believe it is because of the duty that they are there but if all of them mount one checkpoint or the other on our high way, who will now check the borders of the country. But I must advise that they should reduce the duty so as to reduce smuggling.
What do you think can be done to revitalize the automobile industry in Nigeria?
That is the area where the government should fully get involved because we are blessed with human resources, we have the economic powers and Nigerians are investing in the outside world. We have a lot of experienced people here because I know that our universities and polytechnics have courses like engineering and others .The Government can send some team of graduates to travel out of the country to study things like that and how it is being done in other places, come back to the country and we can boost of our assembly plants and come up with a car that we can call our own. It is just a matter of bringing the equipment that they will use. The federal government needs to encourage young entrepreneur. People like Otedola, Dangote ,Adenuga are people that the government can encourage by a way of support. I tell you once this is done, things will happen to the growth of the automobile sector.
How did Berger Auto Market come into existence?
Berger is a child of circumstance; it came into existence when we were asked to leave the Tincan Port complex where we are doing the business in 1990. The vehicles were coming in to the country and it appeared like we were disturbing the immediate environment and we were asked to look for a better place , then we moved to Coconut, at that spot we encountered a similar problem, and finally we migrated to this place to do our business and today we can record membership of more than 5,000; directly and indirectly and the business is also helping a lot of Nigerian youths who would have been involved in one crime or the other to settle down here to look for their daily bread. Otherwise, this number of people in this Berger, you could imagine what those people would have been doing by now if they are not involved in the business. On this note the Government should give us a big thumbs- up because we create employment for the youths of this country and we all know that it is the responsibility of the Government and I will also thank the Federal Government for their understanding for the number of years that we have been here and also the state Government too. We thank Governor Raji Fashola and Senator Ahmed Tinubu who are very helpful with our stay for years. We have all the ethnic groups that make up the country and we are here peacefully. I have been the president of this place for 15 years and a have been leading the people with the grace of God and with my transparency, I have been able to weather the storm.
Is the Place rented or the Association owns it?
That is a private matter you don’t bother about that.
Don’t you think in the nearest future the government will tell you and your members to leave this environment?
We are not afraid, with the level we are now ,when this door close another good one will open, that is my philosophy and that is what I believe in life we have seen a lot of things we are no longer small boys in the society, but what I know is that when we are talking about Nigeria, we are all Nigerians and this the biggest market of fairly used vehicles in Africa. If you want relocate this market, it will not be a thing that you will apply a fire brigade approach, it will take a long process before relocation can be effected. People are complaining about no food and some people are thinking of how to relocate us from the place we use as means to feed our family? Government should come in and support this industry, that is why I say I thank God from The Governor Raji Fashola who have the love of the masses at heart.
Tell us how kidnapping has affected the business?
It has affected the business a lot and that is one of the major problems that we are having as dealers because people who are supposed to come buy Tokunboh vehicles are afraid to do so because of kidnappers. For somebody who has been working from January to December, he should be able to look after himself and the family by getting a good car for the family. The fear is if you come and buy this vehicle and take it home, what will they think, and that is for those of us who are from the South east and South south where these things are the order of the day. It is not funny at all; the big boys are afraid to buy vehicles. For example, my friend was kidnapped this morning .Most of us do not travel to our various villages anymore because of the kidnappers; for what? Some these kidnappers are our brothers, but just because of the money, they kill and steal from those they assume are rich. The government should look in this area, it needs serious attention, kidnapping should not be a nomenclature because they were not born with the act, but it is the situation in the country that led to it. The Government should provide employment for the youths.
Don’t you think if the automobile sector is revitalized, it will affect the fairly used vehicle dealers?
I tell you Nigeria has gone beyond the level of importing fairly used vehicles we are supposed to be proud to sell brand new vehicles. We are not afraid of the revitalization of the automobile sector, but really we want to sell new cars; made in Nigeria ,if we sell new cars and the government repair our roads, we will all be happy, but for now our roads are every bad.
Discussion about this post