The reopening of four land border crossings in Nigeria will lead to a 60% increase in smuggling of vehicle imports in the country. Nigeria Customs said that Nigeria prohibits the import of vehicles from land ports, but customs clearance can be done through sea ports...
Local media PUNCH news A few days ago, the Nigerian federal government announced the reopening of land border crossings in Ogun, Katsina, Kebi, and Cross Rivers states. The Nigerian National Freight Forwarders Association predicts that this will lead to a 60% increase in vehicle import smuggling in the country. . Nigeria Customs said,Nigeria prohibits the import of vehicles from land ports, but can be cleared through sea ports.
Three years ago, the Nigerian government closed its land borders due to the continuous smuggling of arms and various contrabands. The reopening of four land border ports will increase the number of land clearance ports to eight. Days after the federal government announced the reopening of four land ports, stakeholders including customs clearance agents and car dealers predicted a 60 percent increase in vehicles smuggled into Nigeria.
However, Segon Musa, a member of the Nigerian Freight Forwarders Association, acknowledged that smuggling had been taking place even with the border closed, noting that reopening the land border would only give NCS officials room for compromise. He said, "Vehicle smuggling will increase by more than 60%. Often, smuggling vehicles do not pass through these borders, but through unguarded borders. Talking about the increase in vehicle smuggling, I would say that the newly introduced 15% National Automobile Council levy is the immediate cause of encouraging smuggling, and then reopening borders will not stop smuggling. In fact, smuggling has not stopped, it is a regular daily activity. "
In addition, Metche Nnadiwekwe, president of the Lagos chapter of the Nigerian Automobile Dealers Association, said: "A 15% increase in tariffs will increase car smuggling by 60%. One must always look for shortcuts that save money."
Nigeria’s national public relations officer, Timi Bomodi, said that currently, Nigeria does not allow the import of vehicles and rice through land borders, and the only legal border for foreign used and new cars to enter Nigeria is the seaport.
