The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports and the Non-Remittance of Crude Oil Proceeds has directed the Nigeria Customs Service, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture to submit comprehensive documentation clarifying their respective roles in pre-shipment processes.
The Chairman of the Committee, Seyi Sowunmi, gave the directive on Wednesday at a resumed investigative hearing at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The probe follows a resolution of the House to investigate alleged lapses in the pre-shipment inspection regime and persistent concerns over the non-remittance or under-remittance of crude oil proceeds to the Federation Account.
Lawmakers had expressed worries over revenue leakages in both oil and non-oil exports, prompting the constitution of the ad-hoc panel to determine the roles of relevant agencies and identify accountability gaps in the export value chain.
At Wednesday’s session, the committee said submissions made by the agencies were either incomplete or not up to date, adding that fresh communication would be issued specifying new dates for further appearances.
Earlier, representatives of the agencies outlined their statutory responsibilities in relation to the pre-shipment of oil and non-oil goods at export terminals.
In her presentation, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Caroline Diagwan, who represented the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi, said the Service operates strictly within the provisions of its establishment Act and other extant laws.
She said, “Our role as regards export of food is we get what we call the Nigeria Export Proceeds Form (a mandatory electronic document for exporting goods from Nigeria) and then a certificate of inspection, as well as an export permit. We now make sure that those documents tally with what has been exported at the point of export. We do examination as well as physical inspection 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.
“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 tally with what is there physically, they are good to go.”
She added, “The export takes place at export terminals under oil and gas command in Port Harcourt, as well as other commands in Edo and Delta States. The comptrollers of these commands send monthly returns to the headquarters on all the activities, which include all exports as well as imports.”
On his part, a Director at the CBN, Dr Musa Nakurji, who represented the Governor, Yemi Cardoso, said the apex bank serves as the coordinating hub for export documentation through its electronic platforms.
He said, “Regarding the issue of pre-shipment inspection, by the Act of 1992, the Central Bank is actually saddled with the responsibility of the administrative side of it. Let me first of all start by making a bit of a correction. If you look at the Pre-inspection Act, the Central Bank does not appoint the pre-inspection agent.
“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.
“In the Central Bank, we have the trade monetary system.
“And now there is what is referred to as a 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 Certificate of Capital Importation.”
Also appearing before the panel, the General Manager, Tariff at the Nigerian Ports Authority, Ibrahim Lukman, who represented the Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, said the NPA appoints agents stationed at export terminals who relay operational data back to the authority.
He added that the NPA works in collaboration with other government agencies in line with statutory provisions and operates within clearly defined jurisdictional limits at the ports.
In his submission, a Director at NACCIMA, Dr Emmanuel Akeh, described the association as the umbrella body for chambers of commerce in the country.
He clarified that the body has no role in crude oil exports, stating that its function is limited to issuing certificates of origin for non-oil exports to certify the authenticity and origin of goods leaving the country.
In his remarks, Sowunmi said the investigation was of national importance, particularly in light of concerns over revenue leakages in the oil sector.
He said, “Part of the problem Mr President is trying to cure is that we should account for every kobo that accrues to the nation. This is what this committee seeks to achieve.”
The committee assured stakeholders that it would communicate new dates for further appearances, stressing that all relevant documents must be submitted to enable it to determine whether procedural gaps or institutional overlaps have contributed to the alleged non-remittance of crude oil proceeds.
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