Reps Probe Export Oversight, Orders Customs, Ports, CBN To Provide Records

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating pre-shipment inspection of exports and the non-remittance of crude oil proceeds has directed key government agencies to submit comprehensive documentation detailing their roles in the process.

The Chairman of the committee, Seyi Sowunmi, issued the directive at a resumed investigative hearing in Abuja after lawmakers said submissions by the agencies were incomplete.

The agencies affected include the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture.

Lawmakers said they would communicate new dates for the agencies to reappear before the panel.

Representatives of the agencies outlined their statutory responsibilities
during the session.

A deputy comptroller –
Caroline Diagwan representing Customs Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi, said
the agency verifies export documentation, including the Nigeria Export Proceeds (NXP) form, certificates of inspection and export permits.

She said Customs ensures documents correspond with goods physically examined at export terminals.

A director at the Central Bank, Musa Nakurji representing the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said the bank oversees the administrative framework for pre-shipment inspection under the 1992 Act.

He clarified that the central bank does not appoint pre-inspection agents and that export documentation is processed electronically through its trade monitoring systems.

The general manager of tariff at the Nigerian Ports Authority, Ibrahim
Lukman said the agency deploys personnel at export terminals and works with other government bodies within its statutory mandate.

A director at NACCIMA,
Emmanuel Akeh
told the committee that the organization issues certificates of origin for non-oil exports but has no role in crude oil shipments.

Sowunmi said the investigation aims to address revenue leakages and ensure proper accounting of export proceeds.

The committee also directed that agency representatives appear before it must present written authorization from their chief executives.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji