Contrary to reports circulating recently, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has emphasized that the federal government has not lifted the ban on vehicle importation through the Seme border.
The clarification was made by Hussaini Abdullahi, the customs public relations officer (CPRO) of the Seme area command, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.
Abdullahi addressed the speculations surrounding the reopening of the border for vehicle imports, stating that no official pronouncement has been made by the government regarding this matter.
He revealed that a proposal had been submitted to the federal government by some freight forwarders following advice from Ademola Adegoroye, the former minister of state for transportation.
According to Abdullahi, the freight forwarders expressed their concerns to Adegoroye during his visit to the border in February, where he had inaugurated various projects.
The forwarders highlighted the adverse impact of the importation ban on their operations. In response, Adegoroye advised them to document their request in writing, along with the concerns raised by the border community.
Abdullahi further disclosed that during a recent visit by Ibrahim Musa, director of road transport in the Ministry of Transportation, it was confirmed that the letter from the freight forwarders had been received and acted upon.
However, he clarified that no directive had been issued on the matter as of now.
The issue of vehicle importation through the Seme border has been a subject of considerable debate and speculation.
While some reports suggested that the ban had been lifted, the Nigeria Customs Service has emphasized that the government has not made any official announcement regarding this issue.
