Aftermath of Customs Sanction: Five Star Terminal Congested, Offers “Lump Sum” Waivers on Overtime Vehicles

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Coming on the heels of a recent a sanction which led to deactivation of the terminal from Nigeria Customs Service portal for several weeks in July 2022, there are indications that Five Star Logistics Terminal, a vehicle handling terminal at the Tin Can Port is battling port congestion.

Sources confirmed to our correspondent that, while the terminal was disconnected from customs portal, imported vehicles continued to jam-packed the terminal and it’s bonded terminals.

Management of the Five Star Logistics Terminal last week issued a public notice, announcing a “special limited terminal storage waiver” for all importers of overtime vehicles inside the terminal.

The public notice sighted by DAILY TREND states that “We are exceptionally granting the following lump-sum payment options for all vehicles that arrived at our terminal before 1st of March 2022”

The waivers granted are captured below “Cars : N400,000 per unit, Vans: N450,000 per unit,Trucks/Buses: N800,000 per unit”

All receivers no and agents of long stayed vehicles are encouraged to take delivery within the is waiver period

According to the public notice, the offer which commences from 20th of August, would only last till 30th of September.

DAILY TREND gathered that there are also discussions in place between the terminal and clearing agents on the need to extend the privilege to the bonded terminals under the terminal operator, which are equally congested.

Recall that the terminal was disconnected from customs portal on 6th of July 2022 due to unpaid cargo assessment to the tune of N97million.
The terminal was only reconnected to customs servers on Tuesday 26th, July 2022 after paying up the debts.
The Customs had alleged that Five Star Terminal delivered the vehicles and cargoes without it being exited by customs on its systems, and that virtually all the vehicles have backlogs of unpaid assessments mainly Debit Notes.