Auto Importers, Dealers Oppose SON’s Vehicle Pre-shipment Inspection

More reactions have continued to trail the Standard Organisation of Nigeria(SON) decision to subject all Nigeria-bound imported vehicles to pre-shipment verification by three already appointed inspection companies.
Yesterday, importers and automobile dealers expressed opposition to the decision, saying that the SON is only looking for avenue to be relevant in port operations.

Even though freight forwarders have expressed their dissatisfaction with SON's engagement of the service providers, namely: Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited, Quality Assurance Projects Limited and Medtech Scientific Limited, the vehicle importers and dealers have  also described such appointment as "jobs for the boys”,  because according to them, the destination inspection service providers are currently idle.

An automobile importer; Chief Nnamdi Onwuamaegbu told Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday "that SON is chewing more than what it can bite because in the last couple of months they have been having issues with other sectors of the economy".

He said apart from arresting containers and consignments belonging to importers, the agency still usurp other governmental agencies functions which includes the recent face-off with cement manufactures.

He recalled that  government has withdrawn the services of SON from port operations since 2012, yet the agency is trying to seek for relevance within the maritime sector.

According to the importer of used vehicles, the federal government needs to put a stop to the essences of SON because it is gradually getting out of hand.

The importer called for total collaboration between freight agents, importers and even the general public to kick against SON's actions.

On his part, another stakeholder; Mr Collins Nwabueze, who is a car dealer at the Berger automobile market, called on the Nigerian government to encourage car importers and dealers because so many levies are being paid before vehicles are cleared from the seaports.

He said that SON is looking for an avenue to find its way back to the ports, adding that payment of inspection levy on imported vehicles will add more to their cost.

He appealed to freight forwarders to stand firm and fight back by kicking against SON 's moves

Nwabueze further stressed that, "what SON is doing is beyond their capability because the law establishing them does not give them the power to operate in the ports any longer and even to arrest consignments along the roads is not their function, so they should put a stop to it".
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