The Nigeria Customs Service Tin Can Island Port Command has defended its enforcement action against the vessel MT NY Maria after it was allegedly caught discharging Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) without obtaining the required Customs clearance while still under official Customs seal at the port.
In a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Oscar Ivara, The Command described reports surrounding the incident as misleading, insisting that officers acted strictly within the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The Statement further stated that the officers of the Boarding and Rummaging Unit, boarded the vessel on May 23, 2026, shortly after its arrival from the Dangote Refinery, to conduct routine documentation and compliance checks.
At the point of inspection, Customs officers reportedly discovered that the vessel lacked complete documentation, particularly the mandatory Last Port Clearance from its port of origin.
The Service said the vessel’s agent was subsequently granted a two-day window to provide the outstanding document while the vessel was lawfully sealed and placed under Customs control pending compliance.
However, the Command disclosed that officers later received intelligence reports indicating that the vessel had commenced discharge operations at the MRS Terminal, also known as Dantata Jetty, without Customs authorisation and while still under official seal.
Customs stated that upon arrival at the terminal on May 27, officers encountered resistance from security personnel stationed at the facility but eventually gained lawful access to the premises.
The officers reportedly directed the ship master to immediately halt the unauthorised discharge process and report to the Enforcement Unit to provide statements regarding the incident.
“The vessel was thereafter resealed in accordance with extant procedures,” the statement noted, adding that the ship master was not arrested but only invited for questioning as part of ongoing investigations.
The Command maintained that its actions were fully backed by Sections 30 to 35 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which empower officers to regulate cargo handling, inspections and enforcement activities within designated Customs Control Zones.
It further cited provisions of the Act granting Customs officers authority to board, inspect and detain vessels operating within Customs-controlled areas where violations are established or reasonably suspected.
The Service stressed that no vessel operator, terminal operator or shipping company is above the law and warned that all stakeholders within Nigeria’s maritime environment must comply fully with Customs documentation and operational procedures before commencing cargo discharge activities.
The statement added that investigations into the incident, including the alleged obstruction encountered by officers during the operation, are ongoing.
The Tin Can Island Port Command reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to facilitating legitimate trade while enforcing compliance with national fiscal, trade and security regulations.
It also urged members of the public to rely on verified information from official channels and avoid spreading narratives capable of undermining lawful enforcement actions and public confidence in regulatory institutions.
