Why We Detained NLNG Vessels – NIMASA

[Shola Sholaz]

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that it detained the three vessels belonging to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) due to its failure to pay levies due to and its lack of respect for the Nigerian government.
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Speaking with Vanguard on the issue, a NIMASA official who does not want his name in print explained that the detention, was made on Saturday.
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He explained that contrary to claims by NLNG that NIMASA is lawless, it is the officials of NLNG that are lawless, because despite the intervention of government and the directive to settle out of court, NLNG seemed to have ignored the directive.
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A statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, NIMASA, Isichei Osamgbi, read in part, "The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has today in its enforcement of Nigerian laws, served detention notices/orders on vessels belonging to/chartered by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (NLNG).