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By Moses Akaigwe
One of the highpoints of the recent engagement forum featuring the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), was the advocacy for the latter (dealers) to be represented at the ports.
The aim, according to the auto dealers who canvassed the idea, was for AMDON members with deep knowledge of automobiles to help check the importation of rickety second-hand vehicles and others being brought in illegally..
At the stakeholders forum held on Monday, February 16 at the Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos, the Chairman of AMDON, Lagos State chapter, Chief Don Metche Nnadiekwe, said time had come for approval to be granted to AMDON to join the government agencies at the ports of entry.
“Please, you have to make arrangements in the ports whereby our members will have to be present there,” said the motor dealers who said he has been on the business for about 40 years.
Nnadiekwe, who is also the Chairman of the United Berger Motor Dealers Association in Apapa, Lagos, absolved his members of the accusation of importing rickety and other unserviceable ones bound for official destruction in their countries of origin.
Describing some car dealers as “very wicked people,” the AMDON Lagos chapter leader, told the stakeholders’ meeting, “Some people will go to America and buy some useless vehicles and bring them here in the name of dealership, and send it to their brothers to sell.
“I am the President of United Berger Motor Dealers, and when you bring such vehicles to our place, we tow it out, so that you go and sell it to your people
“When you bring a vehicle to Berger, five people must come and inspect the it to verify whether it is good to sell to Nigerians.
The stakeholders engagement forum organised by the NADDC with the Chsurman of Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA), Mr. Bawo Omagbitshe, in attendance had as it’s thene Import of Used Cars and Dealership Regulation in Nigeria.
However, reacting to the suggestions by the motor dealers, the NADDC Director General, Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, assured that the Council would protect the interest of AMDON through the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.
