AutoJoshNG:
The car market in Cotonou is arguably the largest automobile market in West Africa as it thrives on Nigeria’s mega population. Many Nigerians have resolved to buying their cars from this market due to several challenges inherent in getting a good bargain within our fatherland. I recommend that you consider the following advantages and disadvantages before buying your first or next car through the Cotonou route:

ADVANTAGES

1) Level of honesty: This market welcomes you with a lovely aura and a serene environment which gives you the opportunity to explore without being exploited by those guys who always claim “nah my brother get the car”. The Cotonou dealers would calmly communicate the prices of their vehicles to you and they will not hassle or compel you to buy from their lot. Obviously, they are not over desperate to sell and this significantly reduces the extent to which they cheat their clients. However, this does not mean you should be gullible and fall for what they want you to believe as they also roll back mileages and refurbish several accidented cars, but they will hardly sell a registered car to you as tokunbo like our brothers at Berger would.

2) Cleaner cars: The car dealers in Cotonou can afford to buy more cars that are not accidented because they do not bare any import duty cost as the import duty is paid to the Government by the buyer after the car is sold by the dealer. Hence, they have a reasonable amount of cars that are not accidented and the accidented ones are usually repaired by professional panel beaters and painters.

3) Relatively low import duty for high-end cars: Several luxury and recent cars that are considered to be high-end are usually brought into Nigeria through the Seme land border due to reduced duty. A major reason for the reduced duty is the fact that Benin Republic’s Government charges a fixed import duty (500,000 CFA = 320,000 Naira) on all cars irrespective of its year or trim. Furthermore, the import duty at Seme border is less than Apapa and Tincan port as charges that accrue to shipping companies are waived, basic import duties are usually lower and smuggling is easier. I remember counting over 100 Landcruiser and Prado jeeps that came into Nigeria the only night I slept at Ilaro town about 2 years ago.

4) Varieties: If you want to get tired of seeing cars, Cotonou car market is the place to be. You will be overwhelmed by the unlimited number of cars spread over the vast expanse of land. Do not make the mistake of doing your search by foot as those that move around the market on motorbikes still complain of being exhausted.

5) Market localization: This eliminates the stress of driving across a whole state or an entire city in search of a car as most of the cars are located within close proximity to one another.

DISADVANTAGES

1) Difficulty to run a VIN check: This will not be an issue if you have internet data on your phone. However, it is a major issue for so many people who make payment for cars without having information about its flooded history or rolled back mileage. I inspected some cars in Cotonou 3 weeks ago and only realized that the one we liked the most had its mileage reduced from 258,000 miles to 125,000 miles. Thank God we went back to Seme border to get network to run the VIN checks.

2) Relatively high import duty for cheaper cars: There is a myth that all cars from Cotonou are cheaper than cars which are cleared via Lagos ports. This is actually false especially in the case of cars that are relatively old. e.g a 2003 Toyota Camry is usually cheaper if imported through Apapa sea ports as against routing it through Cotonou because you would pay double duty to two separate Governments in the latter.

3) Nigeria Customs’ palava: Customs’ issue is the king of all the challenges you can face when bringing your car into Nigeria from Cotonou. The issues ranges from vehicle seizure to exploitation. I do not hope for my enemy to experience this as those Custom guys are not smiling no matter who you are or who you know. They even seize vehicles that belong to their fellow custom officials as well as that of top military officials. The simplest way to save your car from being seized is by using a reliable and trustworthy agent and ensuring your car is taken into the Nigerian Customs’ compound at the border for proper duty assessment and payment.

4) Restricted movement: Most Nigerians who successfully bring in cars with compromised import duty from Cotonou usually count their gains at the time of purchase. However, this excitement fades away quickly as they begin to watch over their shoulders especially when travelling interstate. Some even travel without their cars due to fear of custom officials.

5) Possible damage when vehicle is in transit: A typical example of penny wise is when you save some bucks by bringing your car in from Cotonou but the cost of damage sustained to your car is commensurate to or higher than the anticipated savings. Some car crossing agents who smuggle cars without the owner’s consent still had a shootout with custom officials a few weeks back.

My verdict is for you to only bring in your car from Cotonou if you have a trusted hand who will not smuggle/fly your car and ensure full import duty is paid after proper assessment at the custom’s office.

What is your verdict on this pertinent issue?

http://autojosh.com/5-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-buying-your-car-from-cotonou/

Sir how do run a VIN check on a car to know mileage?

chilanfarms:
Please don't try it ooo better to formulate feed ur sef oooo... TOP FEED will retard d growth of ur fish. My little experience talking. How old r d fish now?

TOP will give you very slow growth. Don't try it

robonski15:
With the increased price of imported feed e.g coppens, multi feed now #6000, #6600 without any increase in the price of fish, more fish farmers are on the verge of quitting... That means we will be spending roughly #300 to raise one catfish to maturity which is on the high side.. profit is reduced drastically.. But we have the solution with in our Gelatin feed we can reduce cost 50% and maximize profit.. We send to any part of the country...Place your orders today.. Thanks

Good news from a Genius! Okay, about the feed dynamics; does it float? If yes, for how long? Thanks

robonski15:
Picture of the Gelatin feed being prepared for bigger fishes, they can bite a chunk..

Sir this graphic lesson for feeding bigger fishes is helpful, kindly do same for smaller fishes. Thank you

soft777:
IT can be pellet and for mixing it depends if you are sure of your ingredients but i strongly advice you use directly to maximize your fish growth..other fishes can eat it but we actually made this special for catfish because of the high animal protein content to plant protein..The distribution in abuja is still under negotiations very soon we will release the list of abuja distributors and you can get it from every one of them thank you.

Oga SOFT, Please considering the nature of floating feeds and the home made pelleting feed which are in solid pelleting form; how do fish feed on this FORM of feed considering the FORM or nature of it not been the conventional one? Does it float? Thanks

robonski15:
[b]Hello ladies and gentlemen Its my pleasure on behalf of my partners and FRESH ORGANIC FARM we hereby unveil and introduce the gelatin feed.. The first picture is the SUPER GROWTH gelatin feed and the second picture is the SUPER WEIGHT gelatin feed... Both are carefully processed using high quality ingredients mixed in the right ratio to maximize catfish growth and weight..

Essential enzymes, growth hormone, 13 minerals and all essential vitamin with a crude protein for 60%.. It is the ONLY feed in Nigeria with such high crude protein for maximum catfish growth..... The SUPER GROWTH is from fingerlings to the last month of sale, while the SUPER WEIGHT is for the last month till harvest..

The feed comes in powdery form, it needs to be mixed with hot and fed to the fishes for maximum growth and weight.. If you want it to float you can allow to dry for just a day, the advantage it has over other feed is its crude protein is kept intact no leaching of nutrient and can stay bonded together in your water for hours.. You can also prepare it and keep in a dry place and use before preparing another..

We will be selling at a very low price for all to benefit and maximize profit.. A 100kg will be sold for for #15,000 (fifteen thousand Naira only)

Kindly ask any question about the feed.. we will be glad to enlighten you more.

I want to thank all the Gurus in the house that contributed immensely to make the feed a reality.. Most importantly to my partner soft77 who toiled day and night to get the right mix of formula for the success of the feed..



We have gotten some distributors for the feed already in Lagos, Ogun and Delta state, we need more distributors for quicker access to the feed, kindly contact me if interested to become a distributor ..
[/b]

For Lagos farmers contact the following distributors:

Larry show farms: shop d127 prosperity line Ikotun market ikotun
Phone number :08088070750 or 08055102449

Melange Farms: 10 Femi adeyemi street, liberty estate, ita-oluwo, ogijo, ikorodu lagos
Phone number: 08057950487 or 09031504726


FOR DELTA STATE AND ENVIRONS

Nkechi Farms: 4 eagle street opposite Goshen college. okwe Asaba.
Phone number:08177633439 08033092108

FOR ALL OTHER LOCATION CALL OUR MANAGER ON 09054672750

Sir, I salute this record of yours. Pls answer the following:
1. Pls how is this feed prepared
2. How can it be preserved
3. Can it be pelleted
4. How can I be a distributor

robonski15:


Hello ma, i have gotten in touch with your hubby, and we have concluded.. Thanks

Hello Sir, I need to be sure; please respond, have been waiting. Thanks

robonski15:
I have assigned someone with a permanent duty of sending fingerlings/juvenile to any location in Nigeria. We can now supply to any location with a MINIMUM ORDER OF 1,000 fingerlings/juvenile for all to benefit.. No more 3000 minimum order.. Thanks

Hello Sir,
Payment for 3500 fingerly is about being made, please confirm that this acc detail is correct: Acc name: Ijey Sylvester, Acc no: 2023424735. Lastly delivery to Uyo will take how many days from payment. Pls revert ASAP. Thanks

@robonski15

Hello Sir,
Payment for 3500 fingerly is about being made, please confirm that this acc detail is correct: Acc name: Ijey Sylvester, Acc no: 2023424735. Lastly delivery to Uyo will take how many days from payment. Pls revert ASAP. Thanks

robonski15:
Newly completed double decker vats with inlet/outlet with shower rose system..

Hello sir, twice have I called your manager to place my order and also payment details, still no reply. What's going on?

Hello Sir, have been having it hard placing my order. Twice I called your manager for payment details, still no reply. What's going on?