Grimaldi Agency Nigeria Clarifies Empty Container Sales

Grimaldi Agency Nigeria issued a statement on Wednesday clarifying its process regarding the sale of empty shipping containers, refuting claims that it sold 2,500 empty containers and suggesting that such sales would incur customs duties. The company described these claims as false and unsupported by facts.

Grimaldi emphasized that the containers are sold under strict international customs status, which does not transfer to domestic equipment intended for local use within Nigeria. The sale terms were clearly outlined in the purchase invoice, indicating that the containers are meant for international carriage of goods without altering their original customs status.

Mr. Okei Ibekwe, a member of the African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics, noted that Nigeria has lost N600 billion over the past 30 years due to the sale of empty containers. Grimaldi reiterated that any customs duties or taxes incurred are the buyer's responsibility and not the seller's, maintaining that their operations adhere to established international shipping standards.