Pilgrims’ N197 to $1 subsidy: Importers seek waivers from FG

The Importers Asso­ciation of Nigeria (IMAN), has called on the Federal Govern­ment to extend the recent N197 to $1 as against N350 to dollar incentive granted to pilgrims to genuine importers in the country to enable them import goods, enhance the economic develop­ment and create employ­ment.

The National President of IMAN, Dr Raph John made the call during a press briefing in Port Harcourt. Though not condemning the gesture, he thinks that same, or even better incentives should be given to core investors like importers whose services add value to the economy, before extending such to tour­ists whose sole aim of travelling is leisure.

Dr John who de­scribed importers as critical stakeholders in the maritime industry, said it will be difficult to check smuggling when forex is scarce and out of the reach of businessmen who needed it most.

He urged the federal government to work with his association in identifying genuine im­porters who are properly registered with IMAN to curtail smuggling in the country.

“IMAN is a critical stakeholder in the mari­time industry and we are asking the federal gov­ernment to give conces­sion on Forex to import­ers.

“There is no reason why importers should be grappling with the cur­rent exchange rate of over N350 per Dollar, while tourists are given rebate to travel for sightseeing or leisure which does not grow the country’s economy.

We think it is impor­tant for the federal gov­ernment to grant con­cession to importers to import goods, thereby creating employment and boost the economy, especially in this austere time.”

He appealed to the fed­eral government to re­construct the axis of the East-West Road leading to the two refineries, Oil and Gas Free Zone Onne, as well as Indorama Pet­rochemicals in Eleme, noting that the palliative measures undertaken by the State Government to rehabilitate the road have failed due to traffic of heavy duty trucks on that road.