Following speculations that the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS is planning to shut down Intercontinental Hotel over the non-payment of retrospective duties, the commission on Saturday, August 1, refuted the news.

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the commission, Wale Adeniyi, explained that the NCS has found it necessary to clarify its position on its ongoing battle to compel defaulting rice importers to pay outstanding duties owed the Federal Government.

“Our records have shown that Intercontinental Hotel is not indebted to the Nigeria Customs Service, and will therefore not be shut down as insinuated. It is also necessary to clarify that the defaulting importers targeted for sanctions, Conti Agro Nigeria Limited is a separate legal entity from Milan Nigeria Limited, owners of Intercontinental Hotel.

This clarification has become necessary in view of media reports that Nigeria Customs Service plans to shut down Intercontinental Hotel. The confusion was created in view of the association of its owners, Milan Nigeria Limited with one of the defaulting Importers. The Management of Conti Agro has commenced engagement with the Customs to make payments of duty owed by it, and resolve the issue,” the commission added.

PREVIOUSLY: Why Customs Threatened to Seal Intercontinental Hotel

Following the duel between the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and major rice investors in the country has taken a new turn, as the NCS has threatened to close down one of Nigeria’s foremost hotels, Intercontinental Hotel Lagos.

The NCS has threatened that it may shut down the Intercontinental Hotel, following the non-payment of retrospective duties by the hotel’s parent company, Milan Group.

This was disclosed thursday by Wale Adeniyi, Public Relations Officer of NCS. The service had shut down the Lagos warehouses of a number of rice importers this week over non-payment of duties on rice imports that had exceeded their quotas.

Some of the major importers affected by the clampdown include Olam, Milan Group and Stallion Group – all owned by Asian nationals with vast investments in Nigeria.

However, according to some rice investors, apart from Intercontinental Hotel, NCS’ actions and threats included closure of several unrelated industries promoted by the rice investors including factories that partner global multinationals and are driving industrial growth and employment.