The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released 36 trucks belonging to members of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) following the intervention of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
The trucks had been impounded by Customs Police attached to the Zone ‘A’ Federal Operations Unit (FOU) during an investigation into alleged Customs violations at Zarmmak Bonded Terminal in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos. The terminal was sealed as part of the ongoing probe.
Although the Customs Service has not disclosed the specific nature of the suspected infractions, the action disrupted trucking activities and sparked concerns among operators over mounting financial losses.
AMATO Secretary-General, Mr. Sani Mohammed, confirmed the release of the vehicles, saying it followed repeated appeals by the association to the Customs leadership. He noted that the affected truck owners insisted they had no connection with the alleged violations being investigated at the terminal and should not be penalised for them.
Mohammed described the Comptroller-General’s intervention as a major relief, saying the prolonged detention had caused significant financial hardship for truck owners.
In a statement, AMATO thanked Adewale Adeniyi for what it called a swift and considerate response, adding that the decision reflects the Customs Service’s commitment to trade facilitation and engagement with stakeholders. The association said the release of the trucks would allow operators to resume business and reduce the economic impact of the disruption.
Meanwhile, the Controller of the Zone ‘A’ Federal Operations Unit, Comptroller Aliyu Gambo, said the enforcement exercise was aimed at ensuring compliance with existing Customs regulations.
Efforts to obtain comments from the management of Zarmmak Bonded Terminal were unsuccessful, while calls and text messages sent to the FOU Controller before the report was filed received no response.
