A petrol shipment linked to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has become the centre of a tense confrontation at TinCan Island Port in Lagos, after Nigeria Customs Service officers moved to stop the discharge of a vessel over alleged documentation breaches, triggering a physical standoff with security operatives at the terminal.
The vessel, MT Ny Maria, became the centre of a tense standoff on Wednesday after customs officials allegedly discovered that discharge operations had commenced without final clearance from the agency.
TheCable had earlier reported that customs personnel clashed physically with security operatives stationed at the terminal during efforts to halt the operation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Oscar Ivara, spokesperson for the NCS TinCan command, said the vessel arrived from the refinery and was boarded by customs officers on May 23 for routine documentation and compliance procedures.
According to the statement, officers discovered that the vessel lacked complete documentation, specifically the mandatory last port clearance from the port of origin.
The customs authority said the vessel’s agent was granted two days to provide the missing document while the ship was sealed and placed under customs control pending compliance.
The discharge dispute
However, the service said intelligence later revealed that the vessel had commenced discharge operations on May 27 despite still being under official customs seal and without obtaining the required clearance.
“Upon mobilisation to the terminal, officers encountered resistance from security personnel stationed at the facility,” the statement said.
“Notwithstanding the obstruction, officers gained lawful access to the premises. They directed the ship master to immediately discontinue the unauthorised discharge activity and report to the Enforcement Unit to provide official statements regarding the incident.”
The agency said the vessel was subsequently resealed in accordance with existing procedures.
Customs also dismissed reports that the ship master had been arrested, clarifying that he was only invited to make statements as part of ongoing investigations.
The incident has drawn wider attention because the cargo originated from the Dangote refinery, which has become increasingly central to Nigeria’s fuel supply chain since ramping up petrol production.
The refinery has been supplying PMS to major marketers, including MRS, as Nigeria pushes to reduce reliance on imported fuel imports and conserve foreign exchange through domestic refining.
The NCS cited provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, to justify its actions, noting that international seaports are designated customs-controlled zones where petroleum cargoes must be inspected, documented, and cleared strictly under customs supervision.
According to the agency, the discharge of PMS without clearance while under customs seal violates multiple provisions relating to reporting obligations, declaration of goods, unloading procedures, and cargo release protocols.
“Investigations into the incident, including acts of obstruction encountered by officers in the course of lawful enforcement, are currently ongoing,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, officials of MRS reportedly insisted that the vessel had already completed port, customs, and immigration clearance procedures before discharge operations began.