Customs accuses barge operators of illegal diversion of cargoes – bans operations.

By maritimemag March 15, 2020

Segun Oladipupo

Nigeria Customs Service said it has banned the use of barge in conveying containers from the nation’s seaports.

The Service stated that the directive came as a result of intelligence gathering and sharing of information.

This is contained in a statement made available on Saturday by the Deputy Customs Comptroller General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, DCG A. Chidi.

The Service alleged that the operators have abused the privilege by evacuating some of the boxes to illegal warehouses without the approval from the management.

The statement added that the Comptroller General has received intelligence report in the issue.

The statement read in part, “The CGC is in receipt of intelligence that the use of barge to evacuate containers in and out of our ports is being abused to the extend that containers are being diverted to illegal warehouses”. Edited by ‘Biodun Soyele