By Godfrey Bivbere
LAGOS — the vessel that brought two container load of toxic materials into the country last week, MV Marevia, is still anchored at the Tin-Can Port, Apapa, Lagos, due to the inability of owners of the vessel to pay the $1 million fine slammed on them by the Nigerian government.
When Vanguard visited the port, yesterday, the vessel was still anchored there and an official of Tin-can Island Container Terminal, TICT, said there was no clearance yet for the ship to sail.
This was also collaborated by the Public Relations Officer of the Tin-can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Chris Osunkwo, who noted that the vessel had not embarked on its return journey because the owners have not paid the fine.
He explained that the difference in cost between the old products and new ones was not much, saying the cost of the entire consignments in the two containers was nothing compared to the fine the owners of the vessel are to cough out.
*Apapa port
Another source told Vanguard that there was need to ban the importation of used electronic products completely, noting that the same principle applies in Ghana where the Ghanaian government slams a far higher duty on imported used cars to encourage the importation of new cars.
The source explained that the decision was responsible for newer cars on major roads in Ghana currently.
The source called on the management of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, to push a bill to the National Assembly for the ban on used electronic products as a way of safeguarding the health of Nigerians.
