Customs deactivates Five Star Logisitics over unpaid debt of N97.3m
Customs deactivates Five Star Logisitics over unpaid debt of N97.3m
The Nigerian Licensed Customs Brokers Association (ANLCA) said on Friday that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) had deactivated the Five Star Logistics Ltd terminal from its portal.
ANLCA interim president Dr. Kayode Farinto confirmed the development in a statement in Lagos.
Farinto said it was due to an unpaid appraisal of several million Naira.
Kayode urged the terminal operator to resolve the issue by July 19 or they would be sued for breach of agreement and failure to deliver cargoes to the importers’ representative.
“The National Executive Committee (NECOM) has been informed that our members are not allowed to exit vehicles and cargo already cleared from Five Star Logistics.
“This is because the terminal operator has been deactivated from the Customs portal as a result of an unpaid appraisal of millions of naira.
“We wish to inform our members that ANLCA is aware of this issue and we are saddened by the development,” he said.
However, he said that Five Star should know that they will be responsible for all delays and storage charges that may accumulate within this period (July 6 to date).
“I urge our members to remain calm and respect the law and keep receipts for all payments during this period,” he said.
When contacted, Mr. Uche Ejesieme, TinCan Island Port Command Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the deactivation to the Nigerian News Agency, said the terminal owed up to N97.3 million in unpaid taxes.
Ejesieme said the system had a way to update itself, noting that it was because of the examination of certain transactions that the issue arose.
“On July 7, Five Star Logistics’ outbound access was blocked by the Nigerian Customs Service following an investigation which revealed an unpaid appraisal to the tune of N97.3 million.
“Customs asked them to pay and the only condition to unlock their access is the payment of the unpaid appraisal.