The Central Bank of Nigeria has appointed eight pre-shipment inspection agents and two monitoring and evaluation companies. The firms will oversee crude oil and gas exports. The appointments took effect on 2 October 2026. They are implemented under the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme. Details were contained in a circular dated 29 October, signed by Aderinola Shonekan, Director of the Trade and Exchange Department.
NESS was established to supervise export proceeds. Pre-shipment inspection verifies the quantity and quality of petroleum cargoes before they leave terminals. It provides data to reconcile export declarations and revenue. Discrepancies in volume or documentation can undermine government revenue. In May 2024, the CBN appointed 11 agents, comprising nine inspection companies and two monitoring firms. The current reallocation rotates terminals among eight agents. It introduces a two-tier supervisory structure.
Under the revised allocation, Dakee Engineering and Construction will cover LNG, Escravos Gas, Bonny River Terminal and EGTL. Trexem Energy Services will handle Egina, Qua Iboe and Tulja. Geoscape will oversee Escravos, ERHA, Odudu and FSO Cawthorne. 617 Ltd has been allocated Bonga, Brass, Usan and Eagle. Robinson International Energy will handle Ugo-Cha, Penington, Aje, Ima, Oyo and Nembe. Trobell International will cover Forcados, Bonny and Okwori. Integrated Shipping Services will handle Akpo, Antan, Okoro, Anyala-Madu and Ebok. Kephren Business will cover Ukpokiti, Utapate, Yoho, Abo, Agbami, Ajapa, Okono, Okwok and marginal streams designated by NUPRC.
For monitoring, Q&Q Control Services will supervise 617, Trexem, Geoscape and Kephren. Arlington Securitas will monitor Dakee, Trobell, Robinson and Integrated Shipping. The circular was addressed to authorised dealer banks, the Nigeria Customs Service, NUPRC, NNPC, NMDPRA, terminal operators and oil companies. The CBN directed all stakeholders to comply.
The two-tier structure separates inspection from oversight. Inspection agents check cargoes. Monitoring firms assess the inspectors. The aim is to reduce the risk of weaknesses going undetected. The process matters because export volume determines revenue. Under-invoicing and inaccurate measurements cost the treasury.
Winners: The eight inspection agents, which gain contracts. The two monitoring firms, which gain oversight roles. The CBN, which shows supervision. The government, if revenue improves. Losers: Agents that lost terminals. Companies that resist inspection. Smugglers, who face scrutiny. Taxpayers, if the system remains inefficient.
Bottom Line: Eight agents, two monitors, new terminal allocations. The CBN is tightening export supervision. Pre-shipment inspection protects revenue. The test is enforcement.