Driving foreign-used or Tokunbo cars has become a norm in Nigeria. Truth is, a lot of the cars bought and celebrated by Nigerians are foreign-used. Foreign used cars refer to cars already used by someone in the Western world, which are then shipped to Africa (particularly Nigeria) to be resold. These foreign used cars are also called Tokunbo. Tokunbo is from the Yoruba language which means ‘from overseas’. Most of the foreign used cars are usually repaired, repainted, refurbished and replaced with some new parts before being shipped to Nigeria for resale.
In the past, Tokunbo cars were not the norm in Nigeria. Tokunbo cars started becoming the preferred car choice of Nigerians after the Civil War. Initially, buying a brand new car, commonly known as ‘tear-rubber’ was the trendy thing in Nigeria before the civil war. However, things changed with the Nigerian economy after the civil war. The economic stability and prosperity that existed before the Civil War began to dwindle when the Civil War ended. The naira to dollar exchange rate began to exponentially increase, which resulted in the hike of goods and services.
The economic downturn affected the purchasing power of middle-income earners in Nigeria as their salaries seemed not to be enough for them anymore. It was during this time that Nigerians began to seek alternatives to still remain mobile and comfortable. The price of Tokunbo cars to brand-new cars was considerably cheaper, and because of this, many Nigerians began buying more Tokunbo cars than brand-new cars.
Common Tokunbo cars shipped to Nigeria from abroad include
- Toyota,
- Honda,
- Hyundai,
- Peugeot,
- Mercedes Benz amongst others.
Most of these cars are shipped to Lagos Port, from where it is transported to different parts of the country. Lagos is the commercial hub of Nigeria, and its port is very busy with different items being shipped in and out, including cars. Other ports where Tokunbo cars come into Nigeria are Port Harcourt and Calabar port.
In fact, some Nigerian car dealers don’t mind travelling the way to Cotonou to get cheap Tokunbo cars to resell in Nigeria. So far, Nigeria has remained one of the biggest markets for Tokunbo cars. Here are reasons why Nigerians drive more Tokunbo or foreign used cars:
Tokunbo Cars Are Cheaper To Brand New Cars
The cost is the most important reason why Nigerians drive more Tokunbo cars. Compared to its brand-new car counterpart, Tokunbo cars can be two or three times less expensive. Knowing the economic state of Nigeria and the meagre salary of the average Nigerian, it’s only reasonable to choose to spend on acquiring a cheap good car that will give you convenience in mobility. If a brand new 2016 Lexus LX 570 costs 70-90 million NGN, the Tokunbo counterpart is likely to cost 35-40 million NGN. That means an average Nigerian gets to save several millions of naira.
The Present Economy Of Nigeria
Similar to the price, the present economic state of Nigeria encourages the use of Tokunbo cars. In the same way, Tokunbo cars are imported to Nigeria, brand-new cars are also imported to Nigeria. Nigeria is a developing country, hence, the majority of the preferred car brands of Nigeria need to have their car imported to Nigeria before Nigerians can buy. The exchange rate of the naira to the dollar currently is significantly high, and this has doubled the prices of things in the market, especially cars. Therefore, Tokunbo cars still remain a cheaper car choice for Nigerians.
Tokunbo Cars Are Perceived To Be Strong And Durable
When it comes to cars, Nigerians can choose to buy them brand new, foreign-used used or locally-used. Locally used cars are cars used within Nigeria that are available for resale. While locally used cars are considerably cheaper than Tokunbo cars, the majority of Nigerians still prefer Tokunbo because they are believed to be stronger and more durable. Cars imported from the Western world are believed to have been subjected to health maintenance and driving under good road conditions compared to locally used cars. This makes Tokunbo cars preferable to Nigerians.
Tokunbo Cars Are Long-Lasting
Because Tokunbo cars are strong and durable, Nigerians believe they will also last long. Nigerians want to enjoy the value of their money to the last naira, hence, they would rather spend on a car they would use for a long time. And Tokunbo cars are the best option for this.
CONCLUSION
Price is the main reason why Nigerians love Tokunbo cars. If you are looking for a cheap, strong, long-lasting Tokunbo car to buy right now, we have a lot of options for you to choose from at www.https://carpulse.ng.
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