By Oluwabunmi Ogunjimi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released trucks belonging to members of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) that were impounded over alleged trade infractions at Zarmmak Terminal in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.

The release followed the intervention of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, after the trucks had been detained in connection with investigations into the alleged infractions.

Confirming the development, the Secretary-General of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Mr. Sani Mohammed, told Vanguard that about 36 trucks were seized and detained by Customs Police attached to the Zone ‘A’ Federal Operations Unit (FOU) at Zarmmak Terminal.

Vanguard further gathered that the bonded terminal was sealed over an alleged trade infraction, the details of which have yet to be disclosed by the Nigeria Customs Service.

The development led to the detention of the trucks, which were subsequently released following the intervention of the Comptroller-General of Customs after repeated appeals by the AMATO leadership, which maintained that its members’ trucks were not involved in the alleged infractions.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service’s Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Comptroller Aliyu Gambo, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages sent to his phone were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the leadership of AMATO has commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi for his timely intervention for release of the trucks saying that “This timely action has brought immense relief to our affected members, prevented further financial losses, and reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to promoting trade facilitation, ease of doing business, and constructive engagement with stakeholders in the maritime and logistics industry.”

Part of the statement of appreciation by AMATO commending the Customs reads:”On behalf of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), we express our profound gratitude to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, for his prompt and compassionate intervention that led to the gracious release of our members’ trucks that were locked at the Zarmak Bonded Terminal, Mile 2, Lagos.

“This timely action has brought immense relief to our affected members, prevented further financial losses, and reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to promoting trade facilitation, ease of doing business, and constructive engagement with stakeholders in the maritime and logistics industry.

“AMATO remains committed to sustaining a cordial working relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service and all relevant government agencies in advancing a safe, efficient, and prosperous maritime transp

ort sector.”