Nigeria Customs Service said on Saturday it has no plan to shut Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos over default in payment of import duties on rice by a company associated with the hotel.

Wale Adeniyi, Public Relations Officer said in a statement that the clarification was necessary in view of media reports that Nigeria Customs Service plans to shut down Intercontinental Hotel because of the association of its owners, Milan Nigeria Limited with one of the defaulting Importers.

But Adeniyi said there were no records that Intercontinental Hotel is indebted to the Nigeria Customs Service, and will therefore not be shut down as insinuated.

He further clarified that the defaulting importers targeted for sanctions, Conti Agro Nigeria Limited is a separate legal entity from Milan Nigeria Limited, owners of Intercontinental Hotel.

The Customs spokesperson also informed that the Management of Conti Agro has commenced engagement with the Customs to make payments of duty owed by it, and resolve the issue.