Grimaldi Agency Nigeria has dismissed reports that it sold 2,500 empty shipping containers, calling the claims false and not backed by facts. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the company clarified that while it did offer a limited number of empty containers for sale, the transaction was conducted under strict international customs terms. The containers, available in 20-foot and 40-foot sizes priced at $1,600 and $2,000 respectively, were sold strictly in their foreign customs status, meaning they were not intended for domestic use in Nigeria. A notice from Grimaldi Shipping Company described the offer as a limited-time opportunity for logistics operators and traders, with bulk purchases attracting additional discounts.
The company stressed that the sale documentation clearly stated the containers were to be used solely for international carriage of goods and could not be altered in customs status without buyer liability. Any decision to domesticate the containers for local use, such as storage or construction, would require customs regularization at the buyer's expense, Grimaldi noted. This aligns with standard international shipping practice, where containers sold in foreign customs status remain part of global trade operations. The seller, the company added, cannot be held responsible for duties or taxes that may arise if a buyer later chooses to change the container's status.
Earlier, the African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria had criticized Grimaldi's advertisement, calling it a threat to Nigeria's economic stability and contrary to the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda. Mr Okey Ibeke, Principal Consultant at International Trade Advisory Service, claimed during a Monday discussion in Apapa, Lagos, that Nigeria may have lost about N600bn over 30 years due to such container sales by shipping firms. However, Grimaldi maintained that its operations follow global standards and that customs obligations only emerge when buyers alter the containers' designated use after purchase. The company reaffirmed its compliance with international maritime regulations.
Grimaldi sold containers in foreign customs status while Nigerian authorities remain silent on how such deals affect local trade policies. The company insists buyers bear full responsibility if containers are later domesticated, yet no official has clarified where oversight lies. Nigerians using these containers for storage or construction could end up liable for unexpected customs charges. A system that shifts full risk to end-users without public guidance raises questions about transparency and accountability.
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