Stakeholders Caution FG Over Proposed Ban on Used Car Important

Stakeholders in the Nigerian automotive industry have said that the government should not outright ban the importation of used cars, saying, there should be a balance between consumers’ preferences and the industry’s demand.

Recently, it was revealed that the federal government is planning to ban the importation of used vehicles, popularly known as ‘Tokunbo’, into the country in a bid to revitalise the country’s automotive industry and bolster economic growth.

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) is driving this initiative and hopes it will reduce the country’s reliance on imported used vehicles and encourage local manufacturing.

The Director-General of NADDC, Mr Joseph Osanipin, said the council’s effort to restore some of the vehicle manufacturing companies has led them to begin work on legislation and hopes that it can be turned into an act that will give legal backing.

Reacting to this, industry expert, and former adviser to the government on automotive policy and managing partner at Transtech Industrial Consulting, Mr Luqman Mamudu, said he does not believe the government should outright ban the importation of used cars. To him, there should be a balance between consumer preferences and the industry’s demand.

According to Mamudu, “Whether you like it or not, customers have limited choice now in terms of the vehicle they want to drive because they cannot afford the new one, either imported or locally made. What some people can afford is a used vehicle.”

Having said that, he thinks that there are inherent dangers in used vehicles that people do not see or know about.

“Second-hand vehicles are a bit dangerous. Not only for the environment but also for safety. Therefore, there should be a way to manage it. The government should engage the source from which the vehicle is coming. Engage the countries of origin on how they restrict it quietly, making sure that second-hand vehicles that have no integrity should not be exported from their country, while Nigeria should also ensure vehicles coming into the country should carry a certificate of integrity, which I believe is the best way to balance it,” he said.

On his part, automobile Engineer and chairman of the board of directors of driving schools in the country, Engr. Saliyu Aliu believes that the disadvantages of banning used vehicles in the country are huge.

He said the disadvantage is great; however, the earlier the ban, the better for the country because over-reliance on foreign products is much to the point that it is preventing viable projects from universities in the country from becoming reality.

“Most of the projects students are working on are not given proper attention because of these foreign products. So if this happens, it will make us, the people, more committed and serious and make us look back on some of our products at the institution. “One thing you should know is that foreign vehicles are made for the country’s origin. But if we too start making ours, we will make it fit ours as well.”