Chidi Samuel
The Senate on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to rescind the policy banning the importation of cars through land borders which took effect from the 1st of January 2017.
The senators overwhelmingly spoke against the policy insisting that will lead to the loss of estimated 500,000 jobs.
In a motion titled, ‘The Ban on the Importation of Vehicles Through the Land Borders into the Country’, jointly moved by Senators Barau Jibrin (Kano North), Kabiru Gaya (Kano South), Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North), Shehu Sani (Kadana Central) and Ali Wakili (Bauchi South), the senators rejected the policy and asked Nigeria Customs Service to immediately suspend implementation of the policy.
Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the cries of Nigerians and reverse the policy.
According to him, “From the contributions made, it is obvious that the policy is unpopular. We are representatives of the people and the people have spoken through us that they do not want this policy. I think those in government should listen to them.”