The National Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON) on Tuesday in Abuja launched its automated customs duty verification stickers to determine the authenticity of customs documents before purchasing vehicles.
The National President of the association, Mr Ajibola Adedoyin, said the stickers were made possible by the cooperation of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Adedoyin said that the essence of the exercise was to ensure that government was no longer short changed in duty payment and to stop the unjustified suffering encountered by members of AMDON nationwide.
He said that the stickers were meant for only new cars in AMDON custody for sale, not old cars.
” We never said those with old cars should come and collect AMDON stickers; what we are saying is henceforth any car in our stand will have these stickers so that we can defend our members.
” This sticker signifies that the vehicle duty has been verified with the use of the numbers provided by the NCS, pending when the short code for easier verification will be ready and issued with AMDON automated duty verification sticker with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).
” RFID on the sticker contains information that could be read, using your handset. The RFID Vehicle Identification (VID) number is for security purposes, the chassis number and the owner phone number.
” The subsequent AMDON RFID stickers to be produced will contain more information which will include the reference number, which is the NCS- C number, port of entry and the date of registration.
“These are the requirements to authenticate the genuineness of duty payment as approved by customs.
” We call on all our members to make sure the directives of the national body that all vehicles henceforth brought or received for sale carries the AMDON automated customs duty verification stickers is strictly adhered to.
” We also encourage buyers to begin to look out for these stickers before purchase. We know it will take a little time for this project to be fully grounded.
“But with our commitment it should not exceed the next three months with the full support of the NCS.
” AMDON is equally partnering with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) in order to reduce to the barest minimum, the issue of stolen vehicles which has ridiculed our members and made them suffer unduly in the hands of law enforcement agents,” Adedoyin said.
He called for the cooperation of all relevant government agencies to ensure that the project succeeded, adding that ” this is a win win project.
Adedoyin said that the partnership with the NPF would give its members access to a firsthand check on all vehicles within AMDON custody with the NPF database on stolen vehicles before sale or purchase.
According to him, the partnership project with the NPF will commence before June 2017 with the support and approval of the Inspector General of Police, Suleman kpotum.
” With these two projects, AMDON is of the opinion that we must have done justice to our government, customers and motor dealers nationwide.
” It is clear that partnering with major stakeholders is the only and best way government can achieve success of its polices and programmes, ” he said.
According to him, every state in Nigeria is represented in AMDON, saying that AMDON has a taskforce in every state to monitor the activities of motor dealers to ensure they abide by the customs duty verification sticker. (NAN)
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