Customs: We Will Not Shut Down Intercontinental Hotel

Following speculations that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has concluded plans to shut down Intercontinental Hotel, large rice investors in the country, for non-payment of retrospective duties, the commission on Saturday said the hotel will not be closed down.

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the commission, Wale Adeniyi, said 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.

According to the statement, “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.