FG has banned importation of ‘I better pass my neighbour’ generators

The Nigerian government has reportedly banned the importation of small generators popularly known as 'I pass my neighbour'.

This was disclosed on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, by Madugu Sanni Jubrin, the Controller, Federation Operations Unit Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), while speaking with journalists in Lagos, according to The Tribune.

“The smaller generators have been banned by the Federal Government because it is causing air pollution and destruction of our lungs and breathing system. That is why they have banned it but people are still interested in smuggling them in, that is why we intercepted them,” Jubrin said.

“If you go to the market, you still see them because people have imported them before the ban. So it is the leftover they had before the ban that they are selling because the law did not backdate the ban and it is not an absolute prohibition.

“It is prohibition by trade which means you cannot bring it in large quantity and sell to the public. That is the type of prohibition we have on this but if you buy one piece, Customs will not seize it.

“We will not relent in our efforts. When we see any prohibited item, we will seize, arrest the people and we will allow the law court to take decision on prosecuting them. So it is better for them to stop smuggling than to continue when they know Customs will catch up with them,” he added.

The small generator is usually utilized by low income earners due to the cheap cost of acquiring it and its low fuel consumption.

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