Association of
Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Seme chapter, yesterday, raised the
alarm on the dangers of implementing the Federal Government’s
policy banning
used and new vehicles’ importation through the nation’s land borders, saying it
would ignite crisis along the border communities.
In a letter
addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari and read to newsmen in Lagos, Chairman
of the group, Bisiriyu Lasis Fanu, said that the policy will send over 500,000
graduates into the labour market and trigger a series of insurgency activities,
revenue leakage and massive smuggling.
In view of the
potential backlashes, the association called for a reversal of the policy in
line with the huge revenues the importation of vehicles generate to the
economy. He said that Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
generates 70 per cent of its monthly revenue through vehicle importation,
saying that the axis can generate enough revenue to pay some of the nation’s
debts.
Fanu wondered why
the Federal Government should ban importation of vehicles through a border
whose revenue generation could defray the N30 billion loan it is seeking to
finance the 2017 budget. He noted that once the policy is enforced, all
unapproved access routes will be activated by smugglers and smuggling will
increase tremendously.
“At present, there
is a measure of compliance that one can go to the designated Customs vehicle
seat or revenue office of the NCS at the border areas and pay his or her duties
on vehicles. But once this policy is enforced, all unapproved access routes
will be activated by smugglers and smuggling will increase tremendously.
“The Federal
Government is unwittingly trying to ignite another form of crisis along the
border areas in South West, North Central and North West, where smugglers will
do everything to carry out their dastardly act of terrorism.
“Sabotaging the
economy as we are currently experiencing in the South South with the militants
blowing up oil installations and Boko Haram insurgency activities in the North
East, we may be having too many troubles on our hands to contend with at the
same time,” Fanu stated.
The ANLCA chief
recalled that despite a total ban on rice, the commodity still finds its way
into the country. So, if the policy is not reversed, the same thing would
happen to vehicle importation.”
Sunnews
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