THE freight forwarding sector of the  Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has hailed the recent lift on the ban of furniture and other prohibited items, saying that the move will further reduce the cost of locally made furniture.

The Chairman of the freight forwarding sector  Madam Julie Ogboru, said apart from the high cost of locally made furniture, tooth pick and other unbanned items, the quality of the imported ones are better and cheaper.

Ogboru however lamented the non- availability of infrastructures that will aid the manufacturing sector and make them compete faouvably with their foreign counterpart.

She explained that the issue of water power and good roads are some of the factors militating against local manufacturers, adding that until these issues are resolved once and for all,  local industries will continue to suffer set back.

The sector’s chairman also warned importers against using the Nigerian ports to dump unserviceable vehicles.
She advised that only road worthy vehicles should be impoted into the country, noting that this was the reason that made government to reduce the age limit to ten years.

When asked to comment  on the issue of unemployment that may come about as a result of the lifting of embargo on these items, Ogboru stated that it has always been there adding that the lifting of the ban will bring about the loss of jobs.

She stated that the inclusion of tooth pick and matches should not have been  because this will lead to more capital flight.
Her words :” I do not think that it was wise on the part of government to include tooth pick and matches on the list because we are going to lose a lot of foreign exchange through those items and this will not go well for the economy.”

It will be recalled that the Federal Government about three weeks ago approved the removal of certain items from the prohibition list with a view to raising more revenue from import duty collection. Some of the items include furniture, textile materials, tooth pick, matches, health drinks, while the age limit for used vehicles was increased to 15 years from its former 10 years.