The federal government has banned the importation of vehicles through land borders.

A statement released on Monday by the Nigeria Customs Service said the ban will take effect in January 1, 2017.

The ban is in line with a new prohibition order issued by the federal government that restrict importation of both new and used vehicles through sea ports only.

In the statement signed by customs spokesman, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, importers of vehicles through the land borders were advised to utilize the grace period up till December 31, 2016, to clear their vehicle imports landed in neighboring ports.

It should be recalled that the federal government recently disclosed during an automotive industry forum that it would ban the importation of vehicles through land borders and enforce the presentation of road-worthiness certificates on such vehicles from their countries of origin before allowing them into the country.

The Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council,  Aminu Jalal said that it was a means of controlling the influx of used vehicles, popularly called ‘Tokunbo,’ into the country.

This restriction on importation of vehicles follows that of rice whose imports have been banned through the land borders since April 2016.