There has been a tremendous increase in the importation of fairly used vehicles by car dealers operating at the popular Tin can Island Park in Lagos following the influx of potential customers as well the diversion of other operators of same trade to the park.
Auto Port Weekly gathered last week that the increase in importation was as a result of the fact that potential buyers now question the origin of vehicles before buying them from the various auto shops in Lagos so as not to buy smuggled cars thereby falling into custom traps.
There has been a tremendous increase in the importation of fairly used vehicles by car dealers operating at the popular Tin can Island Park in Lagos following the influx of potential customers as well the diversion of other operators of same trade to the park.
Auto Port Weekly gathered last week that the increase in importation was as a result of the fact that potential buyers now question the origin of vehicles before buying them from the various auto shops in Lagos so as not to buy smuggled cars thereby falling into custom traps.
Insiders say the development at the Tin Can Island auto market is due to compliance with Customs regulations; especially on duty payment, they said that vehicles on sale at that park are always devoid of post Customs clearance troubles.
Investigations carried out by our correspondent revealed that government duties are genuinely paid by auto dealers at the Tin Can island park which made demand for vehicles from the park to soar. Other second hand car dealers within Lagos and environs are also reported to be trooping to the park to buy vehicles for a re-sale to their customers.
One of the importers at the Tin can motor park confirmed to our correspondent that there has been a high demand for second -hand vehicles since the beginning of the year following federal government’s policy on the lifting of barn on the importation of cars above 15 years.
The source also bragged that even dealers from Berger, Freedom, Surulere, Ikeja and Maza maza; all in Lagos usually come to buy fairly used vehicles so as to avoid harassments and seizure of their vehicles by the Nigeria Customs Service.
The source disclosed to Auto Port Weekly that cars are imported into the park on a daily basis so as to meet the market demand even as he said that the park also helps in decongesting the terminals as other importers tend to use their park for storage of dully- cleared imported cars and subsequent sales.
‘’This day people buy vehicles from the port and the park directly to avoid problem from the government and before they buy ,some would want to find out where the vehicles is cleared from’’ the source added.
The dealer commended the Comptroller of the Federal Operative Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Victor Dimka for operating with a special squad that does not tolerate smuggling as well as abhors short- changing the Federal Government. According to him smuggling has now drastically reduced since the new Customs boss took over late last year.
Meanwhile, one of the car importers at the Freedom Park in Mile 2 has lamented the issue of rampant customs seizure on imported fairly- used vehicles. He specifically reported that his vehicle was recently impounded along the Lagos- Badagry Expressway.
He confirmed that even though the duty payable on the car is N130, 000, he paid only N100, 000 and that this was why he was apprehended by the customs, even as he claimed ignorance, saying that was new in the business.
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