The House of Representatives has stepped up its probe into alleged discrepancies in export revenues, questioning the Nigeria Customs Service, Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigerian Ports Authority over what it described as incomplete documentation and inconsistencies within the pre-shipment inspection process and crude oil export value chain.
The Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on Investigation of Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports and the Non-Remittance of Crude Oil Proceeds, Seyi Sowunmi, raised the concerns during a resumed investigative hearing on Wednesday.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the materials submitted by the agencies, saying the records failed to provide the clarity required for the panel’s work.
Sowunmi said the documents presented before the committee were neither comprehensive nor current, emphasizing that the panel needed detailed records to establish whether all revenues due to the federation had been properly accounted for.
“We are not satisfied with the level of documentation before this committee,” he said.
“We need complete and updated records to enable us ascertain where the gaps are and how to address them.”
He subsequently instructed the agencies to provide new and more exhaustive documentation, adding that fresh dates would be communicated for their reappearance before the committee.
During the hearing, officials representing the agencies explained their respective statutory roles in the export chain, particularly in relation to the pre-shipment inspection system for both oil and non-oil exports.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, Deputy Comptroller-General Caroline Diagwan said the responsibilities of the Customs Service begin once it receives the Nigeria Export Proceeds (NXP) form along with the Clean Certificate of Inspection and other required export permits.
“Our role in export is to ensure that the NXP form and accompanying documents correspond with the goods physically presented for shipment,” she said.
“We conduct examination and physical inspection, and once everything tallies, exportation proceeds.”
Diagwan clarified, however, that the Service does not collect export duties nor track payments made to government.
“We do not collect export duties and we are not in a position to determine how much is paid into government coffers. That responsibility does not fall within our mandate,” she stated, adding that controllers at oil and gas export commands submit monthly operational returns to Customs headquarters.
The apex bank, on its part, explained that its role within the pre-shipment inspection framework is mainly administrative. Representing the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, Director Musa Nakurji said under the Pre-Shipment Inspection Act of 1992, the bank does not appoint inspection agents but supervises the automated Trade Monitoring System through which exporters initiate the Form NXP via commercial banks.
“The process is fully automated. We do not manually transmit documents to Customs. The Service accesses the system directly,” he said.
He further noted that once a licensed pre-inspection agent confirms the quantity, quality, and value of export-bound goods, a Clean Certificate of Inspection is issued before shipment.
Also appearing before the committee, General Manager, Tariff, of the NPA, Ibrahim Lukman, who represented the Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, said the Authority’s role is confined to port administration and terminal operations.
According to him, the NPA deploys personnel to export terminals to monitor activities and collaborate with other government agencies within its statutory mandate but does not directly collect revenue.
Despite the explanations, the committee said several questions remained unresolved, particularly regarding revenue monitoring and remittances along the export value chain.
In his closing remarks, Sowunmi stressed that the purpose of the investigation was to uncover and seal loopholes responsible for revenue leakages. “Part of what Mr. President is determined to achieve is ensuring that every kobo that accrues to this nation is properly accounted for. This committee will do its part to ensure transparency and accountability,” he said.
The panel therefore directed all concerned agencies to submit the requested comprehensive records and appear again on dates to be formally communicated.
Sowunmi also instructed that any official appearing on behalf of an agency head at subsequent hearings must present a written letter of authorisation empowering them to speak for their institution.
