Nigeria imported 400,000 vehicles in five years — Minister
TRUCK drivers operating within the Lagos ports have decried the N5,000 demurrage charge imposed on them by Truck Transit Park Nigeria Limited, the private operator of Lilypond truck park located at Ijora.
According to the truck drivers, the N5,000 charge is in addition to other frivolous charges imposed on them by the company.
One of the truck drivers, who identify himself, Surajudeen Taju, said the charge is for alleged overstay at the park. He accused the company of taking undue advantage of the electronic truck call-up system introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) earlier this year to extort money from the drivers.
He added that the imposed charge negates the efforts of the Federal Government to reduce the cost of doing business at the ports.
“We were not told all these before now that another N5,000 would be paid. They just came one day and said whenever we stay for more than three days, we would pay the amount for demurrage. We are tired of paying right now. As you can see, there is no job to do now than to wait till one comes,” he said.
Another driver named Niyi also confirmed the imposition of the charge. He asked the NPA to probe the activities of the operator of the truck park.
“This shouldn’t be done here afterall we have paid for the ETO call-up that costs us nothing less than N10,750 and some pay up to N15,000 based on the package he’s subscribing to on the app.
“It is wrong to ask us to pay another N5,000 after this paying this amount. This is wrong, NPA should do something about it,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has said that Nigeria imported about 400,000 vehicles between 2015 and 2020.
Ahmed made the disclosure at a one-day sensitisation on the National Vehicle Registry (VREG) on Tuesday in Kano.
Represented by the Director, Technical Services in the ministry, Fatima Hayatu, the minister said, “The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirmed that between 2015 and 2020, Nigeria imported an average of 400,000 vehicles. An additional 40 per cent of the vehicles are smuggled into the country annually.”
“A case study revealed that Nigeria was the hub of stolen vehicles, as Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of vehicles in the country were usually unregistered. Consequently, vehicles within the shores of Nigeria cannot be traced,” she added.
According to her, the ministry is introducing the National Vehicle Registry (VREG) to address these challenges. The system, she said, would provide a singular platform through which all relevant agencies reference vehicular data with a view of ascertaining ownership and value information.
She added that the system would also assist to ensure accurate monitoring, documentation and tracking of vehicular activities across the country as well as enhance national security.
Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Zone B, Nigeria Customs Service, Uba Muhammad, said the initiative would ensure the security of lives and property.
