17 January 2017, Lagos — THE National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, (NCMDLCA) has said that the National Assembly cannot upturn the Federal Government decision on the ban of vehicles through the nation’s land border.
Speaking on the effect of the policy on vehicles, the Council’s National President Mr. Lucky Amiwero said that the government directive on the ban is an executive one adding that the National Assembly can only appeal to the government to either soft-pedal on the or find a way round the matter to convince government to reverse the policy.
Amiwero said that the matter can be resolved if both the Senate and the Presidency can come together to review the policy with of its effects on the economy and the masses.
He said until the government review the tariffs on trade, the country will keep losing cargo traffic to ports of neighbouring countries.
Recall that the Senate last week called on the Federal Government to suspend the enforcement of the ban on the importation of vehicles through land borders.
The Senate also mandated its Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff to investigate the circumstances that led to the ban by the Federal Government.
Mr. Jibrin said the ban would lead to loss of no fewer than 500, 000 jobs.
According to him, people engaged in the business of vehicle importation and handling services in the border areas are already losing their jobs.
Mr. Jibrin said that it was disheartening that such policy would be implemented knowing that it would create a hardship, particularly for border villages that depended on the activities to survive.
“Since the announcement through the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerians have spoken out and they still do.
“They maintain that it is not economically expedient to ban the importation of vehicles through land borders.
*Godwin Oritse – Vanguard
