FG announces ban on importation of Tokunbo, new vehicles through land borders

The Federal Government has announced that effective from January 1, 2017, importation of vehicles into Nigeria through the land borders will be banned. The ban covers all new and used vehicles.

According to a statement signed on Monday by the spokesman of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Wale Adeniyi, the ban is sequel to a presidential directive restricting all vehicle imports to Nigeria sea ports only. The order takes effect from January 1, 2017.

The restriction on importation of vehicles follows that of rice, whose imports through the land borders were banned in April 2016.

Importers of vehicles through the land borders are requested to utilize the grace period up till December 31, 2016 to clear their vehicle imports landed in neighbouring ports.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has said that the ban on importation of all new and used vehicles will increase smuggling of vehicles across the land borders.

Speaking to Nigerian Tribune exclusively, the National President of ANLCA, Olayiwola Shittu stated that the fall out of such policy will see to the increase in smuggling activities.

In his words, “The ban on vehicles will see to the increase of smuggling across land border because people will become more desperate to bring them in.

“With this policy, the Customs will have more work to do because smuggling will definitely go up.”