Operators in the automobile dealership sector have commended the Nigeria Customs Service for assisting buyers to identify whether vehicles on sale have the right documents.
In the last five months, buyers of imported used vehicles have been able to confirm the authenticity of vehicles from various Customs commands and formations in Lagos and have been guided appropriately.
Operators in the automobile dealership sector have commended the Nigeria Customs Service for assisting buyers to identify whether vehicles on sale have the right documents.
In the last five months, buyers of imported used vehicles have been able to confirm the authenticity of vehicles from various Customs commands and formations in Lagos and have been guided appropriately.
Dealers of used vehicles along the Apapa Oshodi expressway have also alleged that a large number of vehicles on sale at the various parks are improperly cleared out of the ports through under payment or brought into the country through unapproved routes.
However, checks by Auto Port Weekly revealed that buying of vehicles without the right documents has reduced because buyers are wise enough now to cross check the status of such vehicles from the customs formations.
The automobile dealers, we gathered have confirmed that PTML Mile 2 command of the service as a strategic partner in the process of assisting buyers to check the authenticity nature of the vehicles.
A frontline dealer at Freedom Park, an offshoot of the popular Berger Market in Lagos, Mr. Kingsley Anyanwu said that customs has been supportive in assisting buyers to confirm if the right duty is paid on a vehicle or not.
The dealer alleged that though a token is normally paid to the customs officers by the buyers, he noted that "it is better to confirm whether the document of the vehicle is real or fake than buy a vehicle from the park and come back to say that the customs has impounded or detained such vehicle".
He added that the development has led to massive reduction of seized vehicles on the highway because according to him, the dealers, in most cases advise their buyers to cross check from the customs.
On his part, Nwafor Robinson added that other commands of customs apart from PTML Mile 2 also assist to verify the authenticity of vehicles, saying that the customs trade hub has also been effective.
He disclosed that photocopies of payment receipts are presented to the prospective buyers for them to confirm if the duty paid is real or fake.
The dealer maintained that some of the vehicles do find their ways into the park without the proper documents and it is not an offence to pay the right duty to customs while at the motor park.
Nwafor recalled that in time past, the situation of fake duty documents have led to misunderstanding between buyers and dealers which most time result to police arrest, but the present development has led to peaceful co-existence among all parties involved in vehicle purchase and dealership.
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