…order agencies to submit detailed documents on pre-shipment processes
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has asked four key institutions to provide detailed documentation as part of its ongoing investigation into the pre-shipment inspection of exports and the non-remittance of crude oil proceeds. 
The agencies directed to submit the documents include the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
The directive was issued by the Chairman House Ad-hoc Committee on ‘Investigation of Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports and the Non-Remittance of Crude Oil Proceeds, Rep. Seyi Sowunmi, during a resumed investigative session in Abuja on Wednesday.
Members of the committee noted that documents earlier presented by representatives of the agencies were incomplete and required updating. The committee indicated that fresh dates will be communicated for the agencies to return with the full set of records requested.
Before the directive was issued, the institutions had briefed the committee on their respective responsibilities in the pre-shipment process for both oil and non-oil exports at Nigeria’s export terminals.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Caroline Diagwan, a Deputy Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, informed the lawmakers that the service performs its duties in accordance with the provisions of its establishing legislation and other relevant national laws governing export procedures.
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”.
In his submission, represented the CBN Governor, Dr Musa Nakurji, explained 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”.
The General Manager (GM) Tariff, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Ibrahim Lukman who represented the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho also informed the Committee about the role being played by the agency as regards the subject matter at hand.
He said that the NPA appoints agents who are stationed at export terminals and relay all the information to the agency.
According to him, the NPA works hand-in-hand with the other government agencies as provided by law and it has a defined jurisdictional role in what it does at the export termminals.
In his submission before the Committee, a Director with NACCIMA, Dr Emmanuel Akeh stated that, the organisation is the umbrella body of Chamber of Commerce in the country.
He however informed that, it does not have any role in Crude oil exports saying that it only issues certificates of origin which is a trade document to non-oil exports to certify their originality and authenticate the products going out of the country.
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Committee, said that the investigation is crucial to the nation as it will help address some the issues making the country to lose the needed revenues through leakages.
“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”, hestated.
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.
He said, “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”.
It also directed that, any person representing the head of his agency must present a letter of authority stating his nomination to represent him and speak on his behalf.
