Customs agents plead for urgent action to end vehicle import ban as ANLCA VP visits Seme chapter

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Seme Border Chapter has appealed to its national executive for fresh intervention on the lingering federal government ban on importation of used vehicles through the land borders.

The members stated that despite the official ban since 2016, smuggling of used vehicles still persist daily, denying lthem legitimate business and depriving the government of revenue.

Secretary, Seme Chapter, Austen Nwosu who presented these concerns when the National Vice President of the association, Prince Segun Oduntan visited the Secretariat in Seme on Friday stated that the policy has severely impacted members’ operational activities.

He added that the lack of business also impacted the chapter’s internal development, stating that its Secretariat building project has been stagnated since the vehicle import ban.

“Seme border used to be a viable place, but now we are crawling. Since the ban on used vehicles, we have been finding it difficult. But a lot of vehicles still find their way into Nigeria. People still go to Cotonue to buy vehicles, and they still smuggle it in. We have done all we could with our former Chairmen, we have written and done all that we could just to make sure that we attract the attention of the Customs here again. But till now, it has not really worked. But we know that with your visit, you should also help us to do that and take it up to the higher authority.

“Because of low business that is why we couldn’t take so many of our activities to a certain level. Our secretariat building project has been stagnated since that time.

“It was the level that the former chairman Lasisi Bisiriyu took it up to that t has remained since that time, ” Nwosu told Oduntan, who represented the National President, Emenike Nwokeoji.

Secretary, ANLCA, Seme border chapter, Austen Nwosu ( left),some chapter executives and Oduntan inspecting the uncompleted Secretariat building. 

Also speaking, past chairmen of the Chapter, Dele Azeez and Lasisi Bisiriyu, argued that allowing vehicles through the border would not stop them from coming through the ports but would instead boost government revenue.

“The only issue we are having in Seme is we need activities so that our members can survive,” Bisiriyu said urging the national executives to escalate the matter to the higher authorities.

Responding, Oduntan assured the Seme Chapter that the national executive is actively working using dialogue and engagement with government through the Nigeria Customs Service.

Oduntan, who was accompanied on the visit by the interim chairman of the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Mustapha Yakubu expressed optimism that the government will soon act adding that once regulated general cargo trade stabilizes, vehicle imports would follow.

“The national executive led by the national president have been working behind the scene. We don’t believe in making noise but in doing the work and engaging the relevant authority. We are hoping that by next year, the government will lift the ban on vehicle import through the land borders. Once cargo goods start coming and is being regulated, vehicle will follow, ” he said.

The Vice President commended the chapter for its welfare efforts, including launching a new Biometric On-Duty Card to identify genuine agents and its drive to establish a sick bay for members, noting that “most things that kill our people are shock and BP.”

He encouraged the chapter to further look into securing an insurance premium for its members, a scheme he said he successfully implemented when he served as Tin Can Island port chairman.

Noting that the national leadership prioritizes agents’ welfare, Oduntan informed that the association’s Board of Trustees is also planning the establishment of a sick bay at the national secretariat.

The Vice President said he was impressed with the Seme Chapter’s unity, noting that it was the only chapter that elected its executives unopposed in the last election.

He assured the agents that the national body is also engaging Customs regarding the proposed hike in licensing fees and that he would relay all concerns to the National President, who is expected to visit the chapter soon.

During the visit, Oduntan also met with the Controller of the Seme Customs Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, and inspected the Seme Chapter’s uncompleted Secretariat building and proposed sick bay.