FG And The Seme Border Ban

 
The federal Government of Nigeria just recently placed a ban on the importation of cars through the Seme border with the Benin Republic, amidst cry from car importers in the country, on the possibility of a hike in the prices of vehicles sold in the country. To put it aptly, the ban was engineered to curb the serious corruption going on in the importation of cars, from the Nigerian customs, freight forwarder, to clearing agent and to the owners themselves.

Also, it was implemented after series of meetings with their Benin counterpart of which non yielded fruit. In the meeting, the BENIN counterparts were asked to always follow cars imported through its countries port, and being transported to Nigeria, in other to present the appropriate papers, and curb the heavy fraud and incessant fees importers pay in other to cut corners to bring the vehicles to Nigeria.

With the ban, the FG have been able to increase the level of patronage to our major ports in Apapa Lagos, as well as increase internally generated revenue of the Buhari administration. According to reports, the level of activity has increased in Nigerian ports because of this decision. it has also dealt a diplomatic to Benin republic, who depend on the importing activities of Nigerians through its ports.


Considering the fact that vehicle importation contributes a huge source of revenue from the Seme border, at about 56% as at 2016. it is no longer business as usual for importers and customs agents at the border. In fact a lot of them are lamenting the decision by the federal Government of Buhari.

Desperate ones are trying to smuggle this product into the country by any means necessary. I pray this decision is sustained so that we can all see the dangers this pose to our economy, and the economic benefits to be gained