Odu'a Investment Absolves Nigerite‎ of Complicity in Contraband Importation 

By Eromosele Abiodun

Odu’a Investment Company Limited has absolved the foremost roofing sheet manufacturer, Nigerite of complicity in the alleged importation of contraband into the country.

The conglomerate in a statement over the weekend, described the allegation as an attempt to tarnish the hard earned reputation of the building solutions manufacturing company.

Vouching for Nigerite as a company that would not engage in importation of any illegal or contraband goods, Odu’a said it has been associated with the company for over 50 years and it can unequivocally state that the action of importing illegal items is completely inconsistent with the character of the building solutions manufacturing giant.

Odu’a, who is a significant shareholder in Nigerite, posited that the building solutions provider is a compliant and respected company that has been operating in Nigeria since 1959 and during this period, has complied strictly with Nigerian laws and regulations.

Odu’a further stated that Nigerite, which has done and is still doing legitimate business in the construction and manufacturing sectors of the Nigerian economy with annual volume worth several billions of Naira, offer jobs and business opportunities to many Nigerians and its operations also span to other parts of West Africa.

According to the statement, “We believe in Odu’a that it is illogical to say that the same company which is doing so well in its legitimate business will also engage in such act and tarnish its well-earned reputation as a leading company in the building and construction sector of the Nigerian economy.

While expressing confidence that Nigerite would be exonerated, the company called on the law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter with a view to apprehending the culprits and bring them to justice.

The Nigerian Custom Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Port command had recently arrested some officials of Nigerite Nigeria Limited over alleged undeclared goods suspected to be narcotics shipped into Nigeria.

The consignment, the NCS said, was imported alongside Virgin Cellulose Tasman, which is a raw material for a manufacturing giant, Nigerite Nigeria Limited.

The customs said there were eight bags with each bag carrying 25 of the substances, and none was manifested.

The substance, which came from New Zealand in container number CMAU 045195/0, is known to be highly condensed.

The container, which belongs to the Nigerite is among other 17x 20 foot containers.

NDLEA officers said that a proper test would be carried out in the laboratory to ascertain what the substance is.

The Controller of the Tin Can Island Customs Command, Mr. Yusuf Bashar had told journalists that the customs picked interest in that particular container because of the intelligence that was attached to it.

Bashar said the intelligence report indicated there were substances that were not manifested in the container.

Following the discovery, NDLEA officers were invited to the port to make necessary, examination, analysis and investigation and give feedback on the consignment.

The idea is to confirm from the agency if the substances were injurious to this nation or not, he said.

Bashar explained that the result of the investigation and analysis will determine the action to be taken in the case of similar consignment of unidentified substances.

He said the owner of the consignment will have a lot of explanations to offer as the consignment was not in the manifest.

According to him, “If it is a mistake, they will put in writing but if pirate put it on the high sea, then someone must explain and other agencies will take it up from there.”

The Controller called for inter-agency collaboration, stressing that all agencies must work in synergy to move the nation forward, adding that whatever involves other agencies would be handed over to them.