The President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju has blamed the inefficiency of the automotive policy as the major reason it is difficult for Nigerians to afford brand new vehicles.
Adewale who gave this explanation in a chat with Shipping Position Daily last week in Lagos also blamed the policy for creating unemployment in Nigeria.
He pleaded with the federal government to reopen the borders for vehicle importation.
“The policy is not helping Nigerians, it is even creating unemployment for us, most of all these vehicles that are coming in, are either from Cotonou (Benin Republic) or other foreign countries, they should leave it (importation) open as it was in the past, so that you can bring in your vehicles and people will buy”
“Can I afford to buy new car; can an average Nigerian afford to buy new car; a car of N50million. It is this Tokunbo that we all buy, if you buy an old one, you will go and refurbish it and it automatically becomes a new one”
“So, that automotive policy is not helping us, I think the customs that are in that area should do the right thing by way of allowing it the way people have been enjoying it in the past. I think that policy is not helping us” he concluded
