Reps seek suspension of ban on imported cars

The House of Representatives yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the ban on the importation of new and used cars through Nigeria’s land borders.

According to the lawmakers, the policy is too harsh and will put more pressure on Nigerians who are already groaning under the prevailing recession.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion by Abdullahi Salame (APC, Sokoto) who said the percentage of Nigerians who could afford cars had declined drastically.

He explained that the decline in the value of the naira, inflation, unemployment and the high cost of living had also made things difficult for the people.

He added that over 80 per cent of the population at p[resent lives below $200 a day.

The ban, announced on December 5, 2016 by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), takes effect from January 1, 2017.

Salame said the Federal Government’s similar ban on rice through the land borders in April 2016, had led to untold hardship on the people.