By Peter Adelowo
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating pre-shipment inspection of exports and the non-remittance of crude oil proceeds has queried key government agencies over their roles in export documentation and monitoring.
The committee directed the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture to submit relevant documents detailing their involvement in the inspection and exportation of oil and non-oil commodities at export terminals.
Chairman of the committee, Seyi Sowunmi, issued the directive during a resumed hearing in Abuja after representatives of the agencies presented their submissions.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Deputy Comptroller-General Caroline Diagwan told lawmakers that the Customs Service verifies export documents such as the NXP form, inspection certificates and export permits to ensure they correspond with goods exported from the country.
Also speaking at the hearing, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso, represented by a director, Musa Nakurji, said the apex bank coordinates the administrative framework for pre-shipment inspection through an automated trade monitoring system that processes export documentation.
Meanwhile, a separate House committee chaired by Mark Obetta has threatened to issue an arrest warrant against the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Olasupo Olusi, for failing to appear before it to account for the bank’s funding sources and programme performance.
The committee said the probe forms part of its oversight responsibility to evaluate the operations and impact of Development Finance Institutions on key sectors of the Nigerian economy from 2018 to date.
