3,000 vehicle clearing agents risk job loss —Operator

Following the ban of vehicle importation through the land borders by the Federal Government with effect from January 1, 2017, a vehicle clearing company has said that about 3,000 vehicle clearing agents’ risks job loss.

Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune exclusively, the Chairman of LIMA Nigeria Limited, a clearing and forwarding firm, Dr Okpara Emmanuel Ogwu, said the ban will lead to the loss of jobs by over 3,000 youths who have taken vehicle clearing procedure as a means of livelihood.

“About 3,000 Nigerians depend on vehicle clearing at the borders. These sets of people make a living from this business. Now that the Federal Government is set to ban it by next year, what will happen to these people?

“If this ban takes effect from January as expected, it simply means 3,000 youths will be out of jobs. The fall out of this could have security implications because these youths will do anything to make a living.

“Don’t forget that they know the terrain very well. Many of them have been doing this business for years. I think government should look at the hardship this policy will bring on the people.”

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had said that effective from January 1, 2017, importation of vehicles through the land borders will be outlawed. The restriction on importation of vehicles follows that of rice; import of rice through land borders has been banned since April 2016.