The National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents has, again, called for a review of the National Automotive Policy which has only recently and quite belatedly been formulated and passed into law. These traders have shamelessly and most stridently opposed any move by any government to advance the technological development of this country and the creation of proper jobs for our teeming masses.
I advise that the association relents and gets involved in auto dealership for new cars, both locally assembled and imported. Or perhaps they should invest in the manufacturing of components. These are new lines of business staring them in the face. The group should not be seen to be making policy and indeed legislating on industrial and developmental matters. I hope that the association encouraged enough of its membership to run for the House of Representatives and the Senate in the just concluded national election. That is the right way to go, by joining others to democratically argue how best to take care of the interests of the vast majority of our citizens.
Since the Customs clearing and forwarding industry works on cost and re-imbursibles basis, the membership should step aside and allow the importers to argue, if they want, about affordability. The importers know when to stop importing items that are not comparatively affordable or do not make sense. In fact, 50 percent of the middle class Nigerians that own or aspire to own cars have no business driving anything bigger than a Kia Picanto. However, they want a ‘Jeep’ and want the government to subsidise the implied self-deceit and fake lifestyle. Another sad aspect is that funds that should be applied to a modest family home end up gobbled by a fast depreciating item, a bogus car.
Because of the politics of this year’s general election, the government has, on several occasions, more or less, shot itself on the foot by shifting the date for commencement of its new tariff plan. This only emboldened the Clearing Agents the more!
They will not stop until they have successfully scuttled the entire Automotive Policy. The government must stand its ground and call their bluff. The truth is that if the Customs Agents win, we lose. Simple. The death of many new automobile assembly plants that are currently springing up in the wake of the Innoson miracle will be a certainty.
If the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents has been so patriotic and altruistic in its contribution to the affairs of the Nigerian nation, I would want them to advise the nation about their positive impact, if any, on the rice front. The evidence speaks for itself.
Oduche Azi
