Nigerians have decried the Federal Government\u2019s ban on the importation of fairly used cars, popularly known as tokunbo cars, into the country, saying it is a policy that would not work.<\/p>\n
While some said it would end up improving the economy of neighbouring Benin Republic and fatten the pockets of customs officials as a result of illegal importation, others wondered how the government could just decide on policies without taking into consideration the poor standard of living of the people.<\/p>\n
The Federal Executive Council, FEC, had on Wednesday approved the Automotive Industry Development Plan for the development of the nation\u2019s automotive industry and according to the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, the plan was expected to attract investment to the sector and transform the automotive industry to realise its potential as a major driver of economic growth.<\/p>\n
It is believed that this new policy would sound the death knell for the importation of fairly used vehicles into the country.<\/p>\n
But to a car dealer, Eddy Okorie, the Chief Executive Officer of Eddyson Dealership Ltd, in his reaction, said the government should have put in place alternatives before even announcing the policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a country where we cannot manufacture even an ordinary tyre currently, you are talking about an auto assembly plant. Even if you want to, why don\u2019t you set up the plant first and see how it works before gradually phasing out tokunbo cars? How many Nigerians can even afford new cars?<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the President thinks he can ban tokunbo cars so that he and others can be the only few to own cars, that is not possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Okorie advised that the government must immediately think about reversing the policy in the interest of the country, adding that he was sure the government wanted to cause more confusion so as to shift the attention of Nigerians away from its failure.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not possible. Let us watch out,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n
A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mufutau Egberongbe, said the decision was further evidence of the maladministration of the President Goodluck Jonathan government and the ineptitude of his advisers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a country where the government has failed to provide mass transit scheme, cheap rail and water transportation, the people would create alternatives for themselves and this is why they get the tokunbo cars that are even not for the masses.<\/p>\n
\u201cA very good tokunbo car costs at least a million naira. How many Nigerians can afford that? Even if the government has promised the establishment of assembly plants, has it considered the environment? Can such a plant be established without power?\u201d he asked, describing the idea as unreasonable.<\/p>\n
He said any good government would allow the assembly plants to thrive while allowing for the importation of cars as part of the free market policy which the government had often preached about.<\/p>\n
Human rights lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, said the policy was dead on arrival.<\/p>\n
Aturu said the government was groping in the dark concerning its focus. He wondered why the government could think that it could effectively establish assembly plants during the lifespan of the present administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone knows that no such plant is possible in this administration, especially where the government is even owing states allocations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are going to ask people to come and invest in the automobile industry, what is your environment like? This whole thing sounds like a joke.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me, the Federal Executive Council just thought it won\u2019t be nice to come out and tell Nigerians they have not been working. So they decided on the policy and announced their plan for assembly plants when they know they cannot provide even one,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Another lawyer, Azeez Olagoke, said it was unreasonable of the government to think in that direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s the environment for that?\u201d he asked, saying he expected the government to set a target of up to 10 years for the completion of the assembly plants before thinking of phasing out tokunbo cars, and that there should be an assurance that the locally manufactured cars are affordable.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a policy that died before it was conceived and the government must urgently reverse it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Rights activist, Biodun Sowunmi, said it was unfortunate that the government enacts policies before considering the people for whom such policies are made.<\/p>\n
He also said the decision would create mega dealers and further concentrate wealth in the hands of a very few Nigerians.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no country where tokunbo cars are banned. You can only regulate the age of the cars to be imported. The government must also allow the principle of free trade.<\/p>\n
\u201cCreate industries for new cars and allow tokunbo cars, then the people can choose,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Shettima Yerima, said such a ban cannot be enforced anywhere in the world. Therefore, it cannot work in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf those in government can afford new cars, how many other Nigerians can? Why do these people formulate policies without consideration for the people they are to serve?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government can go ahead with assembly plants and allow for the importation of cars so that people can make their choices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not slaves and you can\u2019t therefore just coerce us into accepting your products,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ipoola Omisore, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, said the government was yet to recover from its fumbling and wobbling.<\/p>\n
He recalled that through government\u2019s policies the country no longer has a middle class.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wonder why the government is banning importation of tokunbo cars in situations where people like me cannot afford a new one except for government\u2019s provision of an official car.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like President Jonathan because he is very quick at taking decisions only to end up reversing them with little protests from the people.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will just ask Nigerians not to worry because it would soon be reversed since their President is never a man of his words and never courageous,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Another member of the House, Bisi Yusuff, said though it was a nice idea, \u201call I can say is, instead of banning, he should have done it in stages.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe should first establish the plants, let them work effectively before considering banning importation of tokunbo cars.\u201d
\nPM News<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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