Final Stop: Lagos Taskforce Moves Against Auto Dealers Selling Cars on Roads, Walkways, Lay-By

• Lagos State Government is clamping down on indiscriminate auto dealers who have taken over roads and walkways
• The head of the task force stated that such acts go against the Lagos State masterplan
• He added that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted in competent courts in the state

The Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences Unit has finalised preparations to apprehend and bring to justice individuals believed to be unauthorised auto mart dealers operating in non-designated areas throughout the state.

Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, Shola Jejeloye, who serves as the agency's chairman, revealed this information on Monday, August 14, at the agency's headquarters in the state's Bolade Oshodi region.

Jejeloye conveyed his apprehension regarding the increasing occurrence and approach adopted by car dealers who have repurposed road setbacks, walkways, lay-bys, gardens, and various unauthorised areas into car sales lots.

It would be recalled that Legit.ng recently reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed executive orders which stopped the proposed levy on imported vehicles in Nigeria.

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Indiscriminate auto marts deviate from Lagos' masterplan

According to Vanguard, Jejeloye emphasised that these transformations deviate from the State Government's initial Master-Plan.

The head of the task force, characterising the conduct of specific dealers and transportation operators as lacking consideration, underlined the potential of their actions to endanger the security, tranquillity, aesthetic improvement efforts, and the "Greener Lagos" initiative by the Lagos State Government – all for their interests.

Jejeloye affirmed that this intervention has become imperative, given that these dealers' activities have persisted over time, and the moment to curtail them has now arrived.

He said:

Noteworthy, despite the desire to purchase new and second-hand imported vehicles, rising inflation and various government policies have pushed their costs far from the reach of most Nigerians.

Task force to move against misuse of number plates

The chairman also expressed concern about the widespread abuse of registered number plates intended for motor dealers, which he found disconcerting.

He emphasised that the endeavour to uphold orderliness, tranquillity, and livability in the surroundings must involve everyone.

Price of Tokunbo cars rise by over 100% in 2 years as FG introduces new taxes

In related news, Legit.ng reported that in the last two years, there has been a substantial increase of over 100% in the prices of imported pre-owned vehicles.

The Nigeria Customs Service has implemented an automated valuation system for foreign automobiles, utilising the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and modified the permissible vehicle age for entry into the nation from 2013 to 2014.

Furthermore, the instability in foreign exchange rates has significantly impacted importers' expenditures in bringing Tokunbo cars into the country.

A recent report highlights that the Nigeria Customs Service, from 2013 to 2014, adjusted the acceptable age limit for vehicles imported into the nation.

This, coupled with tariff hikes, resulted in a notable decline in the import volume of cars in Nigeria during the initial quarter of 2023.

Source: Legit.ng

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