Stakeholders differ on Custom’s log for imported vehicles

There is controversy among stakeholders over the use of vehicle log re-introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service for the clearance of imported vehicles at the nation’s seaports.

NCS, in a circular recently, insisted on logbook as sine qua non for the clearance of imported used vehicles from the nation’s seaports.

Reacting, the founder of National Association of Government-Approved Freight Forwarders, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, explained to Financial Street the essence of the log.

He said that vehicles’ log – the basis for duty calculations – could also be sourced online.

“It gives you the age of the vehicle and the basis for rebate in terms of depreciation of the vehicle. So, if you are ready to pay appropriate customs duty, you should not be scared about logbook.

“People only look at how to circumvent payment of appropriate duty. If you can buy a vehicle, ask for the logbook. But even at that, there are other means customs adopt to find out the particulars of any given vehicle. I don’t think it is a big thing if you have nothing to hide,” he argued.

Also, tThe Managing Director of Goldlink Investment Limited, Tony Anakebe, described the re-introduction of log as a good idea, provided the Federal Government will first determine the age limit of vehicles allowed into the country.

He said this would help to reduce the importation of rickety vehicles, making Nigeria a dumping ground.

“They would have, first of all, considered the age limit of vehicles, then the logbook will be a way of further sanitising the importation of vehicles into the country. If they peg it at seven, eight or even 10 years and then log book is introduced, it will help in checking the quality of vehicles that come into the country. Logbook is most essentially used in determining the age of vehicles.

“If I should recommend, I would say, let the government peg it at 10 years because if you get a 10-year-old vehicle and are lucky, you can get all the documents over there,” he said.

But the Chairman of ANLCA, TinCan Island chapter, Peter Akintoye, questioned the rationale behind the directive, especially in this 21st century.

Noting that the world is using Vehicles Identification Number to determine the particulars, he wondered if the people drafting policies in Nigeria were aware of global standards.