Exchange rate renders vehicles’ seats at ports empty, says operator

The high exchange rate has reduced the volume of vehicles imported through the Nigerian ports, the Operations Manager, Ports and Terminal Multiservices Ltd. (PTML), Mr Jack Angrish has said. Angrish told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, that most vehicle seats in the country were almost empty due to inability of the importers to access forex.
“Vehicle imports have reduced from 30,000 to 8,000 in the last six months with the attendant problem of loss of jobs by terminal officials.
“Many vehicle seats are empty and this is almost the last quarter of the year. It is very unfortunate that the loss of Nigeria in terms of revenue on vehicle imports has continued to be the gains of the neighbouring ports of Cotonu and Lome,’’ the PTML manager said.
He said that cars were being smuggled in and the revenue was going to ports of Cotonou and Lome. Angrish said that Nigerians would have to make do with the available cars until the exchange rate improves.