The container laden ship MV Marivia detained for carrying two containers of e-wastes has been released and has sailed out of Nigerian waters to United Kingdom.
Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Dr Ngeri Benebo, confirmed this on Tuesday in Abuja.
She said that the ship owners had met the bail conditions given by the Federal High Court, and added that a bond was processed by the ship owners to the tune of US$500,000.
The container laden ship MV Marivia detained for carrying two containers of e-wastes has been released and has sailed out of Nigerian waters to United Kingdom.
Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Dr Ngeri Benebo, confirmed this on Tuesday in Abuja.
She said that the ship owners had met the bail conditions given by the Federal High Court, and added that a bond was processed by the ship owners to the tune of US$500,000.
She said that the agency was asked to verify the payment, which it did and consequently instructed that the ship be released to sail.
Customs Public Relations Officer, Tin Can Island Command, Mr Chris Osunkwo, also confirmed that the ship had sailed off, having met the necessary conditions.
The two containers of e-wastes were also loaded on board the ship way back to the exporters in the UK.
The MV Marivia, charged with importation of electronic harmful wastes on Jan. 9, 2013, was recently granted 500,000 dollars bail by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The wastes comprised used televisions, computers, DVDs, microwaves, pressing irons and stereos.
The ship, which originated from Tilbury, UK was arrested on arrival at the Tin-Can Island Port Complex (TCIP), Lagos and charged along with a Nigerian, Rumok David, and a firm, Bonicks Investment.
The court said that it granted the bail to the ship to protect the international business interests involving the ship.
The Federal Government ordered that the toxic waste containers be returned to the port of origin in the UK.
Returning the consignment to the UK was in conformity with the provisions of Harmful Wastes Act, promulgated after the Koko Waste saga.
In 1988, a shipment of over 3,500 tonnes of toxic wastes from Italy was abandoned in Koko Port, a coastal community in Delta State.
Also in April 2010, the NCS detained a Maersk Line vessel, MV Nashiville, laden with toxic wastes, lead batteries classified as Basel code A1180 and broken televisions.
In June 2010, Nigeria Customs Service detained another ship, Mv Gumel, in Lagos port for bringing eight containers with materials suspected to be toxic wastes.
In October 2010, a vessel, MV Vera D, carrying three containers of toxic black and white televisions, was detained at the Tin-Can Port, Lagos.
The toxic television sets were returned to the U.S.
In Dec. 2012, NESREA also impounded four containers of used electronics described as “e-wastes” in Apapa port.
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