…direct agencies to file comprehensive records as investigation resumes
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has stepped up its investigation into pre-shipment inspection of exports and the alleged non-remittance of crude oil proceeds, directing key government agencies and a major private sector body to submit detailed documentation on their roles. 
At a resumed hearing on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Investigation of Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports and the Non-Remittance of Crude Oil Proceeds, Rep. Seyi Sowunmi, instructed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) to provide comprehensive records requested by the committee.
The directive followed presentations by representatives of the agencies, which the committee described as incomplete and not sufficiently up to date. Lawmakers indicated that fresh dates will be communicated for the agencies to return with fuller submissions.
Earlier in the session, the organisations outlined their respective responsibilities in relation to the pre-shipment of oil and non-oil exports at various terminals across the country.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, Deputy Comptroller-General Caroline Diagwan told the committee that the Service’s involvement in pre-shipment processes is guided strictly by its establishing Act and other relevant laws. She explained that Customs operates within the statutory framework governing export procedures and compliance.
The committee maintained that a clearer and more detailed account of each institution’s role is essential to determine whether due process has been followed and whether export proceeds, particularly from crude oil shipments, have been properly accounted for.
She said, “Our role as regards export of food is we get what we call NXP, and then certificate of inspection, as well as export permit. We now make sure that those documents tally with what has been exported at the point of export. So we do examination as well as physicalization of food.
“That is the role we play.We make sure that what is being exported tallies with the documents sent to us by the CBN, that’s the NXP, and then the export permit from NUPRC. We are there at the point of inspection. After inspection, that’s when they do the exportation. Customs are there with other government agencies.
“We don’t collect export duties, actually. And we don’t really know how much money they are paying to the government, because that’s not our purview. So as long as the documents they issue to us clearly with what is there physically, they are good to go.
“The export takes place at export terminals under oil and gas command in Port Harcourt, as well as other commands in Edo Delta. So these controllers of these commands, they send monthly returns to the headquarters on all the activities, which include all exports as well as imports”.
On his part, a Director of the CBN, Dr Musa Nakurji, who represented the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso stated that, the CBN acts as the rallying point of the activities of the other agencies through platforms that process the data and information.
He said, “So, regarding the issue of pre-shipment inspection, by the Act of 1992, Central Bank is actually saddled with the responsibility of the administrative side of it. So let me first of all start by making a bit of a correction. If you look at the pre-inspection act, Central Bank does not appoint the pre-inspection agent.
“Then the second thing again, in terms of the form NXP, we don’t send anything manually to Customs.The process is automated. And Customs latch on to that to get their report.
“So in Central Bank, we have the trade monetary system. This is happens on that the trade monetary system and the SVP. So from the bank, the commercial bank of the exporter, they open the form NXP.
“And now there is what is being referred to as clean certificate of inspection. So anything that is going out, the pre-inspection agent will have to inspect that in terms of the quantity, the quality and the value. If they do that and they’re satisfied with what they have, they now issue a CCI”.
In his submission, the General Manager in charge of Tariff at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ibrahim Lukman, who represented the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, outlined the authority’s involvement in the pre-shipment process.
He explained that the NPA deploys designated agents to export terminals, where they monitor activities and transmit relevant information back to the authority.
According to him, the agency operates within clearly defined statutory boundaries and collaborates closely with other government bodies in carrying out its responsibilities at the ports.
Also addressing the committee, a Director of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr Emmanuel Akeh, described the organisation as the umbrella body for chambers of commerce across the country. He clarified that NACCIMA plays no role in crude oil exports. Its function, he said, is limited to issuing certificates of origin for non-oil exports — trade documents used to verify the source and authenticity of goods being shipped abroad.
“Because part of the problems Mr. President is trying to cure is that we should account for every cover that accrues to the nation. And that is what this committee seeks to achieve.
“Please, we’re going to get back to you, we’re going to write to you, and then, any necessities that we need, submit on time”.
The Committee Chairman underscored the importance of the inquiry. He noted that the investigation is central to efforts aimed at plugging revenue leakages and ensuring that the country does not continue to lose much-needed income through gaps in the export process.
The Committee therefore ruled that, the agencies will be informed about the dates to appear before the Committee and submit the needed comprehensive documents requested.
