[size=15pt]Nice development
Afterall, there are no local industries to protect; NEPA has killed them all before now[/size]

Yesss!!!!!

^^

who would then buy the local furnitures if there are foreign furnitures in the market selling at competitive rates? the results? . . . the local manufactures will be forced to reduced their price on goods which will bring down their profit margins by the time the cost of goods is factored in and of course, many more will lose their jobs!

. . you want to know more? the naira would become much more available which will drive up its supply and reduce its value.

Oh did i mention the number of vehicles that will now be plying our already over-subscribed roads? damn! imagine every student could now buy a 1993 model toyota, the hours spent in traffic will double before the end of the year. . . and of course, the roads which were designed for a specific time frame will definitely wear out faster than originally planned.

Additionally, we'd have more old cars which emits higher carbon contents, thus the environment would become drastically polluted, and in a decade or two, we' all will begin to wonder where all kinds of lung diseases came from.

Although i agree that these products even when banned, find their ways into the country through one route or the other, however, this demonstrates the laxity and porousness of the government borders and its weakness to enforce its laws.

Does it mean that if drug trade is legal in Benue Republic, Nigerian government should also follow suit since the products will find their way through our borders and the government will lose a lot of Revenues from it?

I find it really absurd that even while the feds are capable of generating billions from coal and steel revenues, they have chosen to watch those sectors dilapidate and would rather instead allow every junk to pass through their borders!

Every igboman will love this Divine move,Goodluck is really God sent,if this is true that he has lifted this items:textile fabrics, lace, embroidered fabrics and made up garments.THEN MY CONTAINER DEY COME,is time we rebuild Aba and onitsha Textiles importation business,northerners imports textiles everyday nobody question or seize their goods,so let it be open to all nigerians,with this GEJ is sure of Igbo Vote because he has giving Igboman what Hausa man refuse to give him,and tjhose small small countries Benkin republic and Togo can feel the important of nigerians in their countries when 70% nigerians will return home to do same business they are doing there in nigeria

@Violent

On point.

I also agree with violent. Imports are bad for Nigeria. If you are afraid of smugglers, then TIGHTEN up border security. Just don't give up on the problem. Those here who are advocating imports are also advocating slavery and bondage for Nigeria

Many people here are not good economists.GEJ wants to devalue Naira and make the 18000 minimum wage worthless.The value of US Dollar against Naira will sky rocket as demand for used cars will multiply in folds.I have already planned using 9,000 Dollars to buy 6 cars for my relatives this x-mass.

But what about the corrupt customs who are making money only 4b naira for the federal govt and compared to even the philipiness or singapore making 10times that figure.the customs are part of the problem,You go to kano and you see banned imports everywhere ,and people from the east and west travel to kano to buy from the northerners,now the kano market will not attract traffic from east and west,because the goods can now enter .

We need to train the Nigeria customs and produce intelligent officers who are have Nigeria in their minds.

The banned imports have created custom billionaires.I just hate this cutoms guys,the discourage exports and encourage imports.they dont care about Nigeria,they are so individuallistic thedont care .We will create jobs in other countries of the world.

GEj needs to reduce the size of goverenment and address power issues and infrastructure generally,many Nigerians are getting easy money without working,how will you compete with BRIC countries or MENA countries sef.

Good Move, This is what u get from a free market economist, as Aganga, For those who are shouting for the ban to be kept, check the history of prohibition in the US, it same result as we have now with the ban, The Ban has been on since 2005, if any manufacturing outfit has been producing lets say toothpick, If it is successful and of good quality then it will be very difficult for imported toothpick to compete with it already gained custom base on both quality and cost, Same goes for furniture, An Imported furniture lets say 3 piece suite leather sofa , of decent quality will cost in the region of $1000, import cost + expenses will probable add another $500-$1000.(total $1500-$2000) , this price range for a sofa for the socialist amongst us Immediatley excludes 70%-80% of nigerians, Whereas with the old policy this sofa will find its way into naija with any income to the government with the new policy government will make something from it, It will also endanger quality improvement for manufacturers as they can either choose to be the price leader or quality leader, Dont see any downside to this,

Chineke we thank u for this freedom of importation of fabric, cars once again our big players Ariaria market, Aba market, and oilmail will boom soon and life is about to take a u turn!!! The East will recover fast as soon as possible becos business is their birthright.

Some people dey asked who go buy the local furniture na wa ooo na me go buy am as i be the kind of person way dey hang my bag where my hand reach.

Thank God make i begin save moni to import my Hollands and Swiss lace them as e be say road don open for common man

If student fit buy motor that mean say NCAA still good now.  pollution ne pollution co e no pass the niger delta oil pollution.

Importers make una wake up ooo  

I do not understand it when people say banning certain good protect local industries. Let me illustrate something.

1) Textile industries that are supposed to produce fabrics for local manufacturers of clothes are all grounded no thanks to the power situation. Where do the boutiques and other garment manufacturers get their raw materials? How are the Chinese getting in their substandard suits into Nigeria? Has anyone cared to find out?

2) In any society, even in industrialized ones, there are always vehicles that are more than 20 years old. How many mechanics and associated technicians have been put out of work because of the 10 year old vehicle? How many Nigerians have been denied the opportunity to buy vehicles for private use and commercial transport? is the problem the age of the vehicles, OR THE STATE OF OUR ROADS THAT CAUSE VEHICLES TO AGE? I CHALLENGE ANYONE HERE TO DRIVE THROUGH ROADS IN THE SOUTH EAST AND SOUTH-SOUTH, OR PASS THROUGH EKITI OR TOWNSHIP ROADS IN OGUN STATE TO VERIFY/DISPUTE MY CLAIMS HERE.

GEJ has seen that there is no point pushing draconian policies that do not help the populace or the country.

People should learn to look at the realities on ground and not just keep floating the "unbanning them will kill our local industries" jargon. Since the bans, how many of the local industries are up and running?

IBB banned stockfish importation in 1987 and the price of that item skyrocketed. Today, it is out of teh reach of the common man. Has that ban achieved the desired effect?

Besides. let us ask ourselves a question; how does banning the import of a particular product translate into reviving the dead industries in that sector?

Which of these options will resuscitate the more than 500 textile plants in Nigeria that have closed down:

1) Banning textile importation or

2) providing the infrastructure that they need: POWER, REDUCED COST OF BUILDING MATERIALS, GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES LIKE GRANTS AND LOANS, ETC?

I do not understand it when people say banning certain good protect local industries. Let me illustrate something.

1) Textile industries that are supposed to produce fabrics for local manufacturers of clothes are all grounded no thanks to the power situation. Where do the boutiques and other garment manufacturers get their raw materials? How are the Chinese getting in their substandard suits into Nigeria? Has anyone cared to find out?

According to the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association in June, Massive importation of textiles both secondhand and new garments especially from Asia through Benin Republic has led to the shutting down of 65 local textile mills and laying off of over 150,000 workers, others such as cotton farmers and local traders have also lost their means of livelihood due to this closure.

Why the closure? Simple, the locally manufactured ones can't simply compete with the imported ones with the market rates, and the local ones are left to simply die a natural death. . . .If the Nigerian government had enforce its border laws and stemmed the roots of corruption among its custom officials, we might currently be observing a situation where the local textile industry booms with competition and quality.

2) In any society, even in industrialized ones, there are always vehicles that are more than 20 years old. How many mechanics and associated technicians have been put out of work because of the 10 year old vehicle? How many Nigerians have been denied the opportunity to buy vehicles for private use and commercial transport? is the problem the age of the vehicles, OR THE STATE OF OUR ROADS THAT CAUSE VEHICLES TO AGE? I CHALLENGE ANYONE HERE TO DRIVE THROUGH ROADS IN THE SOUTH EAST AND SOUTH-SOUTH, OR PASS THROUGH EKITI OR TOWNSHIP ROADS IN OGUN STATE TO VERIFY/DISPUTE MY CLAIMS HERE.

Nigerians are currently classed as one of the leading consumers of automobiles, we have more than sufficient vehicles plying very few roads. Most roads everywhere in the world have carrying capacity and like everything else, has expiration phase, if and when millions of people drive on a road that is only capable of supporting far less population than that, such roads are exposed to a constant stress and wear.

I am also of the opinion that any smart government should be looking at constructing alternative means of transportation to reduce the populace already dependent on road transport. . . . .not encouraging all Nigerians to own a car

Besides. let us ask ourselves a question; how does banning the import of a particular product translate into reviving the dead industries in that sector?

I'd tell you. . .have you heard of Innoson motors? oh well, in a case you haven't, its a rapidly expanding car manufacturing company.  Could you tell me how many Nigerians will buy a product of Innosons if a Honda product is available for a lesser amount? see? no one!. .

now let's take a look at .a government that reduces tax burdens and makes it easy for Innosons to access credit facilities, while placing and enforcing a ban on all old vehicles from being shipped to Nigeria.  The results? More people will be forced to buy Innosons products, the company will thrive and employ thousands of Nigerians, and gradually down the line, competitors will spring up and this will improve quality in the sector.

People should learn to look at the realities on ground and not just keep floating the "unbanning them will kill our local industries" jargon. Since the bans, how many of the local industries are up and running?

I agree with you on this, and that's why a smart president will rather focus on addressing why many local industries are not running, than attempt to kill the ones running.

Recently, the Nigerian government made an expediture of over 1 billion importing dustbins from the UK. . . .in your own opinion, which economy fared better for it?

violent:

According to the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association in June, Massive importation of textiles both secondhand and new garments especially from Asia through Benin Republic has led to the shutting down of 65 local textile mills and laying off of over 150,000 workers, others such as cotton farmers and local traders have also lost their means of livelihood due to this closure.

The world is still recovering from a recession where most of the developed world have had to take actions to reverse the trends that brought them to this point economically, but our dear country is just now making decisions to open up our own markets, a market already over 90% dependent on imports, to even more of the same, while there are little or no attempts being made in the same breath to curb the trend of collapse in our manufacturing sector.

The country lift a ban on toothpick. . .hehe. . I am sure there are over 1 thousand chinese firms that will be willing to flood the Nigerian markets with all kinds of toothpicks at ridiculously cheap prices, . . . . doom for toothpick manufacturing start-ups in Nigeria.

and then our law makers are gulping 25% of our budgets! ah!. . . i laugh o!

This is ridiculous, why would the so-called government opens it borders to allow such? How does Nigeria intend on offsetting trade deficits? Do they know that in the long run that would affect unemployment rate and GDP?

I also agree with violent. Imports are bad for Nigeria. If you are afraid of smugglers, then TIGHTEN up border security. Just don't give up on the problem. Those here who are advocating imports are also advocating slavery and bondage for Nigeria  Sad

you guys are very funny,look at people wey never get waste disposal outfit dey talk abt pollution,
lol
Understand something, it was a move to at least get the votes for elections which will be over next year while he embarks on robust infrastructural development i guess. for now that is what we need and that is wot he has done.
if u go with obj, then how many 1.5m cars have u bought for peeps that cant afford it. why did people resort to smuggling? because things were difficult for them including the custom officers that mount the border,
anyway i don't know if u feed yourself but i can still rem. vividly when a bag of rice sold for 15k in some parts of the country at the wake of obj's embargo
every country is unique with their problems, the lack of infrastructures have made it pertinent for our economy to depend on imports until it changes there is absolutely nothing anyone can do about that, so live with it.
Gej has done that which is absolutely necessary.

manny4life:

This is ridiculous, why would the so-called government opens it borders to allow such? How does Nigeria intend on offsetting trade deficits? Do they know that in the long run that would affect unemployment rate and GDP?

I don't know whether to cry or to laugh. Or whether to take money and import used cars too, as Abagworo is doing

Just very sad to see policies that will ruin the country be enacted.

9ja which way forward?? Nigeria Jagajaga!

Yorubah:

9ja which way forward?? Nigeria Jagajaga!

I concur ! "Nigeria" jaga-jaga but our beloved "Naija" can neva b jaga-jaga 

9ja which way forward?? Nigeria Jagajaga!

Who is this again now for God sake.

[b]God help us, there would be more bangers in Nigeria than human beings very soon.

Every tom, dick & harry would now believe it is their God forsaken right to be a car dealer. Our road networks has remained d same as it was since 1982 except for some few additions.

Did I hear someone say Lagos is congested, we never see anything Nigeria would soon become one huge gridlock of bangers, but this policy by Jonathan does it really make sense, on the one hand there is a communique dat all goverment agencies should be patronising Innoson motors yet the same goverment is lifting d veil of Bangers to flood d Market.

I hope Lagos port would not face d repeat of the Cement Armada of 1975 wen cement that could re-build d whole of Lagos 3 X was imported into d country. There was said to be over 200 hundred ships ready to bearth at d Lagos port, such an avanlanche of imported automobile could put d security of d country at risk, as some evil minded people bent at causing mayhem in d polity might hide fire-arms and other assult weapons in d bowels of these Bangers.
[/b]

Joe is hopelessly clueless.I agree OBJ is relatively better than him.At a time when d that d crazy senators are passing bill to promote nigerian made vehicles,he is flooding d market with bolikajas. Common tooth pick too that can be made by shaping wood

I'd tell you. . .have you heard of Innoson motors? oh well, in a case you haven't, its a rapidly expanding car manufacturing company.  Could you tell me how many Nigerians will buy a product of Innosons if a Honda product is available for a lesser amount? see? no one!. .

now let's take a look at .a government that reduces tax burdens and makes it easy for Innosons to access credit facilities, while placing and enforcing a ban on all old vehicles from being shipped to Nigeria.  The results? More people will be forced to buy Innosons products, the company will thrive and employ thousands of Nigerians, and gradually down the line, competitors will spring up and this will improve quality in the sector.

@ violent

you sound like those guys that think Naija is a direct interpretation of their economics text books, stop talking without facts.
the innoson motors you are referring to, how many people can afford it ? those who can will still buy it if his price is ok.afterall his fellow competitors like geely,mahindra scraps are still selling.
Even innoson's cars are still not affordable go and price them.the Germans when they were poor made beetle to suite their life style and budget and everybody patronised it.
when the russians were in trouble, they made OKA to suite their needs, in Naija which local manufacturer suits your need?
even when we were lucky to have peugeot assembly plant, a 504 of 79 model was still selling for 2.4m the last time i checked,so how are they helping the man on the street?
let the govt fold their arms and watch market forces to regulate things including quality.
what the so called indigenous manufacturers do is that they fix prices worse than their foreign counterparts because the COST OF PRODUCTION IS HIGH.
haven't you gone to the market to see an Aba made slippers more expensive than a chinese made, now tell me who in his right senses will subscribe to that? Ask urself why the govt have not forced MTN to crash rates?
the same problems continue to reverberate, unless we fix them, both the banning and repealing will not help us. quit deceiving urself
until Naija has a functional price regulatory agency and infrastructures to reduce production cost, importation remains our best bet.

let me tell u what happened in Enugu 2005, after the rice ban, the indigenous rice manufacturers called ugboka known for poor processing (half stone half rice) was selling for 3x the price of the foreign ones. so how did the govt succeed on that?

when you stop imports local manufacturers enjoy monopoly and hike their price, you open imports, they cry wolf that they are out of business, either way, it is a loose loose situation till those issues are addressed, in the mean time, "china here we come"

@jp phillips: With that approach, then we'll never produce anything in this country. Should we just give up and say that the only thing of value we will produce is oil?

Protect certain businesses, give them a chance to catch up. Agriculture for example is something we can be competitive in. Things which don't require heavy electricity/industry (e.g., toothpicks, certain other items), let's grow our indigenous business for that.

We cannot be a nation that produces absolutely nothing, except oil. We must grow other industries, even if we must resort of banning the import of items.

mekaboy:

[b] THE BANNING OF THOSE STUFFS WAS NEVER INTENDED TO HELP THOSE THAT PRODUCE LOCALLY, BEACUASE THERE IS NOT ELECTRICITY TO ENABLE PRODUCTION THAT WILL BE ENOUGH FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY

IT WAS JUST A MOVE TO BY OBJ TO SUPRESS THE IGBOS , THAT IS WHY HE NEVER WANTED THE GOODS TO BE IMPORTED INTO THE EAST VIA RIVER NIGER, TILL YARADUA CAME IN.

Abeg, go form Biafra then and allow all the imports into that land! A country that imports EVERYTHING has no chance of surviving. And we aren't even a rich country like the US which imports a lot, we are a 3rd world country which imports everything. Do you not see how this is a recipe for disaster?

^--- We have to start from somewhere. We can make clothes in Nigeria. We can make shoes. We can make toothpicks. I think we can make furniture too.

If the prices are not currently competitive enough, we should study and figure how to make it so. Maybe there is some process that is being used overseas that we've not yet taken advantage of. Maybe the companies here need low-interest loans. Whatever it is, let's figure it out. But we cannot afford to just give up entirely. Support business in Nigeria, do not destroy it.

For certain things we cannot make competitively like cars, fine, import them (again, with a 10 year restriction so low-quality junk cars are not imported.) But in the long-term, even those things like cars eventually must be made in Nigeria. We cannot be a nation of importers.

mekaboy:

WE CANT BAN WHAT WE DONT PRODUCE OR WHAT WE DONT HAVE ENOUGH OF, ALL THE DRESS MAKERS AND SHOW MAKERS IN NIGERIA CAN NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH CLOTHS FOR 10% OF NIGERIA'S POPULATION. WHY BAN THE IMPORTATION OF CLOTHS?

90% OF NIGERIANS CANT AFFORD NEW CARS , CARS 10YRS OLD ARE ALMOST NEW, SO WHY THE BAN ?

IF THE GOVT GENERATES MORE MONEY FROM IMPORTATION, THEY CAN ALSO GIVE OUT LOANS TO SMALL SCALE PRODUCERS, WHEN WE HAVE ENOUGH LOCAL PRODUCERS, WE CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF THE PRODUCT IMPORTED OR BAN IT ENTIRELY, WHY RUSH TO BAN SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT MADE PROVISION OF ITS SUPPLY ?

Did you hear yourself speak? What do u know are factors of production? Question isn't whether a country is producing or not, true question is do we have the resource that affects production. In this case we of toothpick and furniture all made from timber, Nigeria has enough resource [/b]of wood, timber etc, with the staggering rate of unemployment, one would agree with me that [b]labor [/b]is in abundance, did I mention technology, Nigerian companies can always "buy" [b]technology [/b]from abroad which isn't a big deal and the only factor I see here that's a problem is [b]capital. That's why the govt should be doing; providing seed money for startup and challenge them to compete aggressively. How can XYZ company produce on a local scale when there isn't electricity to power up the machineries? Oops I forgot, govt is busy encouraging importation to they fail to see how that affects local manufacturers. I'm not against importation, after all we do need a balance of trade, but too much can be problematic.

This is not a move that I support.

Such arrogance on this forum! See people complaining about the expected influx of 1995 era Camry and Honda vehicles.
Well, NEWSFLASH! Not everyone can afford to buy SUVs and 2001 Honda Accords. Teachers, Market women et al also have the right to buy cars, and the influx of affordable vehicles will be a big WIN for them.