The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), on Friday, blocked all access to the Bonny Chapel from the fairway buoy, at the beginning of the channel, to buoys 17 and 18 over unpaid levies.

This was announced in a statement by the acting Director, Shipping Development of the agency; Capt. Warredi Enisuoh.

According to the statement, “this blockade stops all vessels belonging to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) that operate in the area are either permitted to leave nor enter the area until all statutory obligations are met.”

NIMASA said that action was “forced on the agency by NLNG’s disregard and demonstrated unwillingness to abide by the country’s maritime laws especially, sections of NIMASA Act that mandates payment of the levies based on gross freight on exports and imports and the Cabotage Law”

“Since inception, the NLNG has cherry-picked our laws. All efforts to get the management to meet its obligations to Nigeria have been treated with impunity” claimed NIMASA.

The statement further said “while the NLNG  is bruited as one of the crown jewels in the nation’s hydrocarbon industry, its habitual violation and the utter contempt for all our laws, is unbecoming of a company of its statue.”

“For avoidance of doubt, our action is carefully planned to avoid loss of lives or damage to property” NIMASA warned as it also noted that the ongoing blockade is limited to the NLNG vessels and other vessels lifting gas on its behalf.