Car dealers in Lagos have asked the Nigerian Customs Service to stop its undue harassment on them, as no reason was given for the closure of their marts by the agency.
They advised the agency not to work on the assumption that every car dealer sells smuggled vehicles.
TVC News recalled that it is about six weeks and counting since the seal off of car marts in Lagos and other states. The economic implication and losses remain of immeasurable concern for car dealers who said this is going too far.
The crackdown by the Nigeria Customs Service on certain auto dealers was a move to stop the smuggling of cars through the porous borders. The service insists that car dealers who were not involved in selling smuggled cars did not have the marts sealed off
At a conference of professional platform of auto dealers association of Nigeria, they called for due diligence in its valuation of duty payment and clearance processes.
For them, consultations continue and are ready to explore all options including legal means to stop the intermittent closure of their marts.
The Nigeria customs service says complete payment of duty is the only way to go before the temporary seal off will be reversed.
