Nigeria Customs Service yesterday clarified its position on its on-going battle to compel defaulting rice importers pay outstanding duties owed the Nigerian government.
The service Public Relations Officer, Wale Adeniyi said in a statement issued in Abuja that the clarification became necessary in view of media reports that the Service plans to shut down the highbrow Intercontinental Hotel in Lekki, Lagos.
“The confusion was created in view of the association of its owners, Milan Nigeria Limited, with one of the defaulting Importers,” Adeniyi said in the statement signed for the Comptroller-General of Customs.
“Our records have shown that Intercontinental Hotel is not indebted to the Nigeria Customs Service, and will therefore not be shut down as insinuated. It is also necessary to clarify that the defaulting importers targeted for sanctions, Conti Agro Nigeria Limited, is a separate legal entity from Milan Nigeria Limited, owners of Intercontinental Hotel.
“The Management of Conti Agro has commenced engagement with the Customs to make payments of duty owed by it, and resolve the issue,” he added.
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