Overtime vehicles: Customs plans auction after two-week ultimatum

T The Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday gave a two-week ultimatum to owners of some overtime containers and vehicles to clear them, warning that the cargoes would be auctioned if left unclaimed.

The service stated in an advertorial that the process of auctioning the overtime cargoes would commence immediately after the expiration of the grace period, which began on the day of publication.

According to the notice, the affected 512 overtime cargoes are located in Lagos ports, including Apapa, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, Ports & Terminals Multiservice Limited, and Tincan Island Ports.

The NCS explained that the measure aligns with the NCS Act 2023 and follows a motion of ex parte with file number FHC/L/MISC/8262024 dated November 28, 2024.

“In line with the NCS Act 2023, the under-listed overtime containers and vehicles domiciled at the under-listed commands, following a motion of ex parte with suit number FHC/L/MISC/8262024 dated 28th November 2024, are hereby published for the information of the general public.

“Accordingly, importers/agents of the overtime goods are given a two-week grace period from the time of this publication to process and clear their goods or forfeit the same to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Please note that by the NCS Act 2023, the Nigeria Customs Service will commence auctions of all uncleared overtime goods immediately after the expiration of the grace period,” the service stated.

This comes months after the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, inaugurated a committee to dispose of overtime cargoes and ease congestion at ports.

The General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Durowaiye Ayodele, welcomed the decision, noting that over 7,000 overtime containers have remained at ports for years, occupying valuable space.

Freight forwarding associations offered mixed reactions, with some praising the ultimatum as a positive development while others suggested duty rebates as a better incentive to encourage clearance of long-standing cargoes.