There are palpable fears that vehicles affected by a storm known as ‘Hurricane Sandy’ which rocked some states of America last year are gradually being imported into the country, even as importers have advised buyers to avoid vehicles with corrosive element on any parts of such automobile.
There are palpable fears that vehicles affected by a storm known as ‘Hurricane Sandy’ which rocked some states of America last year are gradually being imported into the country, even as importers have advised buyers to avoid vehicles with corrosive element on any parts of such automobile.
Investigations conducted by our correspondent in Lagos last week revealed that prices of such vehicles are actually cheaper in the United States, but most of the importers who brought such vehicles into the Nigeria automobile market prefer to sell them at the usual price so as not to arouse buyers’ suspicion.
However our reliable sources disclosed that such vehicles go for as low as US$1000 to US$2000 for exotic automobile while older brands go for as low as US$400 to US$700, depending on the bargaining skill of the dealer.
A source who preferred anonymity revealed that such vehicles that were affected by the storm have visible rust content on various parts of their bodies down to the engine but affirmed that, "it is not all vehicles that are corrosive that are hit by the flood, but be skeptical with such cars", he said.
He noted that some states were terribly affected by the natural disaster compared to others, adding that the dealers go to those states that were not too affected to buy vehicles.
He added that New York, Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey are still under distress pointing out that some vehicles are unsellable while some are beyond repairs due the disaster..
When asked about the affected states where such deals take place, he declined to respond saying that the US authorities might choose to investigate it.
"Apart from Nigeria, some other West African countries will also experience similar importation of such vehicles because it is not Nigerian dealers alone that buy from the dealers in the less affected states , even dealers from Asia , Europe and South America buy such vehicles as we speak”, the source disclosed.
According to him;"as far as we are not into hard drugs, or human trafficking and rituals, I think it is not a crime do such business because such vehicles can be sold to the buyers, we are the first people that will drive the vehicle so there is nothing to be afraid of by Nigerians".
It would be recalled that on the 27th of October 2012 a massive storm(Hurricane Sandy) ravaged about 17 states in the USA where more than 50 million people were affected.
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