The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, said it generated N2.5 billion as revenue from the owners of a vessel, MV Drago J that recently berthed at the Niger Dock terminal in Snake Island Lagos.
The aforementioned figure were charges the vessel ought to pay, but allegedly did not follow proper berthing procedures; as it sailed straight to Niger Dock terminal from overseas, instead of first stopping at a conventional port on Tin Can Island to complete inspection and other documentation formalities by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Customs, Immigration’s and other relevant government agencies.
The alleged ‘sneaking’ in of the vessel forced Customs to detain it at Niger Dock pending when it complies with due process procedures including the payment of relevant charges.
The Public Relations Officer, Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Chris Osunkwo, who confirmed the N2.5 billion payment also said the Comptroller General of Customs, Hammed Ali, has ordered the release of the vessel.
He said:“Yes I can confirm to you that we collected N2.5 billion revenue from the detained vessel, MV Drago J. It’s government’s revenue and I think they paid earlier in the week. I’m also aware the CGC has ordered the release of the vessel having complied with the directives given by government.”
“The vessel ought to have berthed at a conventional port in Tin Can Island for Customs officers, Nigerian Ports Authority officials as well as other government agencies to perform their statutory functions, after which it would be escorted to Nigerdock, but upon arrival it proceeded to berth directly at the Free Trade Zone”, another Customs source said.
