For allegedly sneaking into the expansive Free Trade Zone at the Nigerdock Snake Island at Tin Can to discharge cargo, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has detained a ship; MV Drago J.
Also, a whooping N2.5Billion revenue that is supposed to be collected into Federal Government’s coffers through the Nigeria Customs Service is being threatened.
Authoritative sources within the Tin Can Command of the Nigeria Customs Service confirmed to Shipping Position Daily last week that the vessel was supposed to berth at one of the conventional ports at the Tin Can Island for Customs officers and Nigerian Ports Authority officials as well as other government agencies to perform their statutory functions, after which it would be escorted to Nigerdock, but the ship, upon arrival proceeded to berth directly at the Free Trade Zone.
It was learnt that the general cargo ship had arrived the facilities of Nigerdock on January 20, 2016, at about 3:00pm. It allegedly hitherto had a “no port calls recorded during the past three days” ascribed to her.
Our correspondent confirmed that, the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Alli (rtd) consequently ordered that the vessel be detained and its content not discharged.
Apparently worried about the imminent revenue loss, our source disclosed that, “If customs had boarded that vessel to perform all formalities, the revenue accruable is N2.5billion. So we on our side have written to management to temper justice with mercy so that we at the command can collect that revenue.”
When Shipping Position Daily contacted the Tin Can Customs Command, it’s public relations officer, Mr. Chris Osunkwo confirmed that the vessel is still being detained. He said that the revenue accruable from the ship had not been collected and that the command had been exchanging correspondences with the Customs headquarters on the issue.
“For now the vessel has not been released, customs will not board the vessel because it is under contention, it is only when there is order for its release that we can be allow to go in”
”I know the vessel is carrying fabrication materials, it is not a container vessel, the ship contains fabrication materials, it depends on the nature and value of the consignment that we use to measure the revenue” Osunkwo said.
Our correspondent gathered that Nigerdock Limited has also written series of appeal letters to the customs management, begging it to allow customs to board the vessel, so that it’s content could be discharged.
The information obtained however is that the headquarters is investigating some of the officers posted at Nigerdock Limited for possible compromise.
On the strength of the suspicion, the Customs headquarters released a circular dated Jan. 21, 2016, and sent to all units, commands and zonal headquarters signed on behalf of the Comptroller-General by a Deputy Comptroller-General, Ms Grace Adeyemo.
The circular stated that customs had got intelligence reports which indicated compromise by customs officers at the Tin Can Port.
The circular reads in part: “Intelligence reports reaching headquarters indicate some form of compromise by officers where deliberate acts of impunity are perpetuated through illegal berthing of ships/vessels and mid-stream discharge of cargo other than officially designated Customs Ports despite existing circulars.
“In effect, I am directed to reiterate and convey the Comptroller-General of Customs directive on strict enforcement of the Extant Laws and Circulars in that regard.
“That on no circumstance should any ship/vessel coming in from foreign, berth at any other place other than the conventional ports first.
“Where any of such ship/vessel is Free Zone-bound or designate, it shall set sail thereafter under official escort of the Enforcement Unit of the Command for further official processes”.
The Tin Can port command’s spokesperson; Osunkwo however told our correspondent that, “for now the status quo stands, and it is that no officer should board that vessel”.
Speaking on the allegation that officers were compromised, Osunkwo said it is not true because it was the officers posted to Nigerdock that alerted the Customs Area Controller, Mr. Yussuf Bashir and this led to customs swinging into action.
“Without the tip-off from the officers, the vessel would have discharged it’s content and disappear” he said.
Shipping Position Daily learnt that, there has been an upsurge in cases similar to the one at Nigerdock.
It was gathered that the Apapa Area Command had also last month effected the CGC’s order to detain the consignment from a vessel; MV Torco Clairvaux.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the detention of the consignment, a source said that the ship; MV Torco Clairvaux, allegedly illegally berthed at LADOL Terminal on December 16, 2015, and when the CGC was informed about the vessel, he ordered that the vessel be seized, but that the order was not obeyed and the ship subsequently proceeded to discharge her cargo at the terminal.
Consequently, according to the source, Ali ordered the detention of the consignment over alleged non-adherence to directives.
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