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admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

FG Imposes Age Limit on Imported Buses, Trucks

Oscarline Onwuemenyi,
7 Apr 2008

The Federal Government on Friday said it would impose a new requirement that buses and trucks imported into the country should not be older than 10 and 15 years old, respectively.

The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Chief Charles Ugwuh, who disclosed this at a meeting with local automotive manufacturers/assemblers and major importers/distributors in Abuja, said the new rule was to avoid the importation of vehicles that would require excessive maintenance.

Ugwuh, who also disclosed that government was rolling out a new policy for the development of panel vans and light trucks that Nigeria needed, challenged the local manufacturers to concentrate on making panel vans, light trucks and mid range trucks that could move commerce and industry forward.

He said, "We came to a decision to concentrate on panel van, light trucks and mid range trucks. The national efforts should be geared towards developing functional vehicles that will move the commerce and industry. We agreed that we will concentrate on panel van, light truck and mid range trucks, so, based on that we would now have target investment in that direction and mobilise resources to achieve that."

He assured the auto manufacturers that government would provide some incentives and protective measures, which include "enforcement of the patronage gazette for products of local firms by all tiers of government, in all government contracts, in all multinational grants and in joint partnerships agreements."

The minister further revealed that government would maintain the requirement that cars imported in to the country should not be older than eight years, stressing that "government's focus is how to realise the new policy of the development of panel van, light truck and road in truck that Nigeria needs."

He stated, "Government will introduce a certain degree of consistency in duty charged with used vehicles attracting higher tariff (minimum of 50 percent than new ones), while manufacturers and assemblers should enjoy low tariff on all inputs. This will discourage the continue purchase of used vehicles whilst that of new ones will be encouraged."

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Auto importers, BEWARE!!!!
Only these id***s understand the rationale behind their own decisions...
As for me, I gave up quite a while back!!!
FSB

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

FSB,

I disagree with you.

Re: FG Imposes Age Limit on Imported Buses, Trucks

Nigerians legitimately complain about unnecessary vehicular accidents yearly, and most stem from old and junk cars imported from abroad. Nigeria was becoming a dumping ground for everything including old and toxic computers from the US, used clothing, fake medication from China and India, substandard goods from China, used and junky electronics, including aged refridgerators, old lemon & usually junk vehicles and used tyres, so it makes sense that such items be prohibited at the point of entry instead of finding ways to dispose these usually non-disposable items that foreign countries seek to dispose of in unsuspecting and naive developing countries.

If one thinks of how many times innocent people have been killed in vehicular accidents that were unserviceable, especially those involving raggedy trucks, buses and trailers, we would be thanking God that at least some of these new generation officials are actually doing the tasks they were paid for.

We cannot complain that Nigeria is not being made safe enough or developing fast enough, while simultaneously complaining when moves to eradicate the situations that impede our progress are made. We should be thankful that sound policies are being put in place to safeguard us and our families.

Our lives and safety should never be compromised because of greed or profits to be made from importing used vehicles that are over 10 to 15 years. If a person chooses to ship his own personal car home, that's totally different from buying a used car whose history is unknown, that may or may not be serviceable, and that may end up endangering lives of unsuspecting victims.

Sometimes counting the dollar line is not the most important thing in life, the love of money is the reason why people who previously succeeded in shipping used tyres, used syringes and fake medication ending up contributing to the unnecessary loss of lives, which agencies in place, such as NAFDAC, etc., are now trying to prevent, by working to combat and eradicate situations that compound such issues.

Additionally, not all auto buyers are scrupulous. Some have been known to be involved in shady deals simply because of their uncontrollable love of money. These include those who buy or ship stolen cars, such as those in this article http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about1915.html but such an issue is not for discussion here, as our focus in this thread is regarding the restriction of aged vehicles.

Cxsm
11th April 08

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm