INVESTIGATION: More Than 280,000 fairly Used Cars Imported Into Nigeria in 2013

Investigations have revealed that 280,057 fairly used cars were imported into the country last year as against 251,322 brought into the country in 2012,while the total tonnage as of last year was 1,454,080 as against 1,344,946 recorded in the previous year.

According to inward vehicle traffic statistics from the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA), Josepdam terminal received 320 cars; Tincan Island Container Terminal received 2 cars; Ports and Cargo Handling Company cleared 1,977 cars; Five Stars Limited handled 112,742; Port Terminal and Multi-Services Limited handled 165,016; Kirikiri Lighter Terminal had none last year while the Josepdam handled 131; TICT 6 cars; Ports and Cargo Handling Company handled 944; Five Stars handled 96,285 cars and Port and Terminal Multi Services Limited handled 153,956 cars in the previous year.

Commenting on the increase over the previous year under review, Chief Superintendent of Customs and the image maker of the Port and Terminal Multi-Services Limited(PTML) Prince Steve Okonmah, who attributed this unprecedentend increase to efficiency and state-of-the-art handling equipment made available at the terminal, said apart from the fact that the terminal was new, the Customs Area Controller in-charge of PTML is a no-nonsense officer, whose doggedness every customs officer wanted to emulate, and the reason for the increased revenue generated last year.