BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island Port Command, has sealed a vessel, MT NY Maria, over alleged documentation irregularities and the unauthorised discharge of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, at the MRS Terminal, Dantata Jetty, Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.
The enforcement action followed the discovery that the vessel allegedly commenced cargo discharge operations without obtaining the mandatory Customs clearance and while still under official Customs seal, raising fresh concerns over compliance with port and petroleum cargo handling regulations.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Oscar Ivara, the vessel arrived from the Dangote Refinery and was subjected to routine checks by officers of the Customs Boarding and Rummaging Unit.
According to the statement, preliminary examination of the vessel’s documents revealed significant gaps, including the absence of the mandatory Last Port Clearance certificate from its port of origin.
Customs authorities said the vessel’s representatives were granted time to produce the missing documents while the ship remained under official Customs control pending compliance.
However, intelligence reports later indicated that discharge operations had commenced at the terminal without Customs authorisation, a development that triggered swift enforcement measures by the Command.
The incident has once again spotlighted the critical importance of strict adherence to regulatory procedures within Nigeria’s maritime and downstream petroleum sectors, particularly at a time when government agencies are intensifying surveillance of cargo movements and port activities to safeguard national revenue and promote transparency.
The NCS reiterated that all cargo discharge operations within designated Customs Control Zones must be conducted strictly under official supervision, in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Customs further disclosed that investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the alleged infractions, including reports that some officers encountered obstruction during the enforcement operation.
The outcome of the investigation, officials said, will guide further actions as the Service continues its crackdown on violations capable of undermining regulatory compliance and revenue protection at the nation’s ports.
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