VREG: Port Operators Raise Alarm, As FG Sets to Slam Fresh Charges on Imported Vehicles

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Following the recent introduction of the Vehicle Registration (VREG) initiative by the Federal Government, port operators and licensed customs agents have warned that there must not be any additional charges imposed as a result of the policy.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, says the introduction of the National Vehicle Registry (VREG) policy of the Federal Government is to reduce vehicle theft, enhance national security and generate revenue for the government.

The ministry is implementing this scheme in collaboration with state governments and the Nigeria Customs Service.

According to the Finance Minister, records have shown that Nigeria is a hub of stolen vehicles, and the VREG is designed address anomalies associated with importation of vehicles, kidnapping and other crimes.

“In line with the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative, the ministry conceived and launched the National Vehicle Registry Automated Gateway Portal as a means to leveraging technology infrastructure to maximise revenue generation for Nigeria as well as to enhance national security such as curtailing kidnapping, utilization of vehicles in crime perpetration and terrorism” she stated at the weekend.

However, reacting to the new policy by the government, factional Chairman of Tin Can Island Chapter of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Mr Ojo Akintoye said the clearing agents would not support if any charges is attached to VREG.

Speaking with DAILY TREND NEWS, he said “The Federal Government has said every incoming vehicle must now be registered, we are still fighting them that their is no need for that, the law allows that a car can spend between a period of three to six months before getting registered

“What the government is saying that, on all the tokunbo vehicles litering the country, they want a kind of monitoring, if any car is stolen, through this, it can be recovered, so all imported vehicles must have VREG

“They have not actually declared the total amount of money to be paid, but they are saying that it is going to be a token.

“We are not against the VREG, provided it is free of charge, but we all know that it is not going to be free, with all the taxes we are paying in the maritime sector, they still want to introduce more” Akintoye lamented

Reliable sources however informed our correspondent that the VREG would attract N3,000 per vehicle.

Continuing, the frontline customs agent informed our correspondent that there has been series of meetings and engagements with the governmentand customs on the VREG policy.

“We have been engaging with the government, due to the economic meltdown, every government is looking for how they can generate funds”

Also speaking with our correspondent on the policy, Secretary of ANLCA at Tin Can Port, Barr Michael Imonitie Ovien said the VREG is an initiative that government wanted to kick-start to make sure that all vehicles that are imported into Nigeria would be monitored to pay customs duty.

According to him, this means that if your vehicle is not properly cleared, you would not be able to register that vehicle to use it.

In a related development, DAILY TREND NEWS gathered that the Lagos State Government had stormed the Mike 2 area of the port last week started collecting N3,000 on vehicles leaving the port as temporary vehicle tag.

Freight forwarders alleged that after collecting the money, the Lagos Government issues them a sticker.

Reacting to this development, Barr Ovien charged the ANLCA National Secretariat to take action and approach the Lagos State Government in order to quickly put an end to the impending crisis.

“I believe if the National Secretariat is there, they should go to the Lagos State Government and ask questions. Why are all these charges on imported goods? We already have the wharf landing fees of N500 on all imported vehicles into Nigeria, the collecting agents are stationed at Mike 2, PTML and Liverpool, there is no escape route for any goods imported, they would give you a ticket”

“The government should sensitize people before collecting money”

“We also got a letter from Shippers Council, telling all agents to register with them for a fee, and that there is a regulation to that effect since 2015” he lamented

The Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr Charles Nwodo at the weekend stated that government has projected a five per cent growth in the nation’s annual revenue through VREG

Nwodo stated this at a zonal sensitization seminar in Lagos at the weekend.