By Chinwendu Obienyi
To ensure transparency and efficiency in the oil and gas export sector in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has appointed 11 pre-shipment monitoring and evaluation agents.
The appointment was contained in a circular: TED/FEM/PUB/FPC/OO1/014, dated May 13, 2024, and signed by the apex bank’s Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, Dr Hassan Mahmud. He revealed that the appointments take effect immediately.
The circular obtained by Daily Sun on Tuesday, divided the appointments to include 9 pre-shipment inspection agents and two monitoring and evaluation agents.
The circular listed the 9 Pre-Shipment Inspection Agents as follows; Neroli Technologies Limited: Qua Iboe, Forcados, and Bonny, Holborn Oil and Gas Inter Ltd: Usman, Egina, and Yoho, Swede Control Intertek Ltd: Ima (Otakikpo), Erha, and Ajapa, Fel Tov Energy & Investment Ltd: Tulja, Antan and Odudu, JBIS Inter; Resources Ltd: Agbami, Bonga, Okoro and Akpo.
Others are; Patibon Services Ltd: Ebok, Oyo, Peninton, E.A, and Okwori, Offshores Bulk Inspection Co Ltd: Escravos, Brass and Anyyala-Madu, Candid Oil Services Ltd: Okono, Ugo-Cha, Abo and Aje, Dakee Engineering and Construction Limited: LNG, Escravos and Bonny River Terminal (BRT).
For the Monitoring and Evaluation Agents, they include; Arlington Securities Nigeria Limited: JBIS, Offshore Bulk Inspection Co.Ltd, Neroli Holborn Oil Gas, Dakee Engineering & Construction Ltd (Gas), and DV Howells Nigeria Limited, DV Howells Nigeria Limited: Feltov Energy, Swede Control, Patibon Services, and Candid Oil Services Ltd.
The CBN also said that the directive has been communicated to authorised dealers listed as, the Nigerian Customs Services, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), all terminal operators, and all oil and gas companies.
The pre-shipment inspection agents will be stationed at key export locations, while the monitoring and evaluation agents will oversee the overall process.
This indicates a concerted effort to ensure that all parties involved are aware of and adhere to the new arrangements.
Meanwhile, deposit money banks (DMBs) across the country have stopped the collection of deposit processing fees in accordance with the CBN directive.
The apex bank had initially resumed the collection of processing fees on cash deposits after the CBN had stated that a two per cent processing fee was charged on deposits above N500,000 for individual accounts and a three per cent processing fee on deposits above N3,000,000 for corporate accounts.
However, the CBN announced an extension of the suspension of the processing fees to September 30, 2024. In response to this, banks have written to their customers informing them of the suspension.
According to an email seen by Daily Sun on Tuesday, UBA in a notification said, “Dear Customer, this is to inform you that the Central Bank of Nigeria has extended the suspension of processing fees on cash deposits until 30 September 2024.
Thus, we will continue to accept cash deposits without charging the previously announced two per cent and three per cent processing fees for individual and corporate accounts, respectively, beyond the initial deadline. Thank you”.