The President, Warri Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture in Delta State, Chief Simon Sitte, has warned the Federal Government to reconsider its decision to ban the important of vehicles through land borders.
Sitte who spoke in Warri, said the ban, slated for implementation from January next year, was ill-timed and counterproductive.
He said rather than reduce import, the ban would encourage smuggling, lead to unemployment, corruption and illegal trans-border trades that would harm the economy further.
“We need to review the auto policy to encourage vehicles to come to the ports. Even if you come by sea and you pay 70 per cent while your competitors favored by government pay 35 per cent, it does not make sense,” he said.
He urged government and relevant agencies to ensure the formulation of policies that increases revenue for government and create jobs, stressing that the decision to ban importation of vehicle through the land border wasn’t one of such.
He said until the controversial automotive policy is reviewed, the ban placed on the importation of vehicles through the border would have adverse effects.
Sitte also advised the government to ensure that all the vehicles trapped at Cotonou ports are conveyed to the sea port by Eastwest coast vessels.
He further advised the government to engage in wide consultations among stakeholders before promulgating the law and questioned the propriety of the auto policy saying: “Are we really producing or assembling vehicles in Nigeria?”