Nine years after the ban on the importation of vehicles through land borders, the Federal Government has been urged to review the ban.

A bonded terminal operator, Adetona Mubashiru, who called on the Federal Government to revisit some of its policies on trade facilitation, including the ban on vehicle importation through the Seme Border, insisted that the ban has failed to achieve its intended purpose.

In a statement, he alleged that the policy, instead of curbing smuggling or boosting local auto manufacturing, has led to increased inflation, massive revenue losses at authorised entry points, and heightened hardship for Nigerians trying to afford transport.

Mubashiru, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Only God is Wise Nig. Ltd, alleged that rather than stopping illegal imports, the ban pushed the trade to hundreds of unapproved, porous bush paths.

According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) faced immense difficulties policing illegal routes, thereby leading to revenue losses.

“There were severe revenue losses by forcing trade through inefficient and congested seaports (like the Lagos ports), the government inadvertently lost billions in accruable import duties to neighbouring countries, prompting the demand for reopening of key borders like Seme for vehicle transit,” Mubashiru said.

The maritime stakeholder said it was expedient that the Federal Government, through the incumbent Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Adewale Adeniyi, leave office, he should revisit the “international trade anomaly”, noting that his numerous visits to the Seme border kept elevating the spirit of critical stakeholders at the border that a bilateral agreement on lifting the ban on importation of vehicles through the land border would take place.

He stressed how vehicle importation through the land border created employment opportunities for many youths, who he alleged are now on the streets causing mayhem.

He recalled the youths, including artisans whose vocations connect with vehicles, who came to the Seme Border daily to do auxiliary jobs and went home with a full day’s work due to many jobs on the ground.

“We are talking of panel beaters, rewires, mechanics, painters, drivers and others. But since the ban, these people were also affected by the policy because their business and their survival exist side by side. These are law-abiding citizens who always support government policies, but this one should be given another look,” he said.

He recalled when the presidential directive on the ban came up on Dec 5, 2016, with effective implementation on Jan 1, 2017, captioned ‘FG Bans Importation of Vehicles Through the Land Borders,’ stating that the prohibition order covers all new and used vehicles, restricting all vehicle imports to Nigerian seaports only, during the era of Comptroller-General of Customs, Hammed Ali, rtd.

According to Mubashiru, an elaborate discussion on the emergency order said Col. Ali, represented at a stakeholders’ meeting, promised that the government may reconsider its decision after the successful implementation of a new initiative by the Nigeria Customs Service and the Customs Service of the Republic of Benin to automate and network all electronic information about incoming cargoes through the border.

“It is nine years since this order took effect, but the ban on vehicle importation through land borders failed to solve its intended problems. Instead of curbing smuggling or boosting local auto manufacturing, the policy led to increased inflation, massive revenue losses at authorised entry points, and heightened hardship for Nigerians trying to afford transport,” he said.