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NESS
Independent pre-shipment inspection for Nigeria's non-oil exports under the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme.
Carmine Assayer Ltd provides professional inspection and verification services in support of Nigeria's Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme, with particular experience in the inspection of non-oil exports.
The Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme was established under the Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports Act, 1996 (Act No. 10). The Scheme supports transparency in Nigeria's export trade by using pre-shipment inspection to establish the true value and physical characteristics of declared exports destined for international markets.
Our NESS-related inspection activities focus on providing reliable information on the quantity, quality, condition, identity and value of export goods, together with the documentation required under the applicable export inspection process.
Mandated for the south-west
Carmine Assayer was mandated to carry out pre-shipment inspection of non-oil exports from the south-western part of Nigeria. That work strengthened our understanding of the operational, commercial and regulatory requirements of verifying export cargoes before shipment.
Non-oil export inspection
Non-oil exports are central to Nigeria's drive to diversify its export base and strengthen foreign exchange earnings. We inspect agricultural products, raw materials, processed and semi-processed products and other eligible export cargoes.
Our inspection activities establish whether the physical characteristics of the goods correspond with the information declared by the exporter. Depending on the assignment, an inspection may cover:
- Quantity and weight verification
- Quality and physical condition
- Product identification
- Packaging and labelling
- Product specifications
- Cargo presentation
- Defects or visible abnormalities
- Documentation
- Price and value verification where applicable
- Export shipment details
The NESS framework identifies the checking of quantity and quality, identification of defects, destination-market requirements, transparency, confidentiality, avoidance of delays and price verification among the purposes of pre-shipment inspection.
Verify before the cargo leaves Nigeria
Pre-shipment inspection gives an independent assessment of export goods before they ship. Our personnel attend designated terminals, warehouses, ports and other approved inspection locations to examine and document export cargoes.
Under the NESS process, the Pre-Shipment Inspection Agent determines the fair value of exports at prevailing prices and processes the applicable inspection documentation, including the Nigerian Export Proceed Form (Form NXP) and relevant NESS levy documentation where applicable.
What we verify
| Quantity | The quantity or weight of goods presented for export, established using appropriate inspection and measurement procedures. |
| Quality | The physical quality and characteristics of goods, assessed against the relevant inspection requirements. |
| Condition | The visible condition of the cargo, with relevant defects or abnormalities identified. |
| Identity | The identity and description of the goods presented for shipment. |
| Packaging | Packaging, markings and labelling, where these form part of the inspection requirements. |
| Value | Price and value verification, where applicable within the inspection mandate. |
| Destination | Relevant product characteristics checked against destination-market requirements, where specified. |
Inspection at terminals, warehouses and ports
Export cargo passes through several stages before shipment. Our inspection capability can be deployed at each of them.
Warehouse
Physical examination, quantity verification and condition records at the point of consolidation.
Terminal
Cargo presentation, identification and documentation review before movement to the port.
Port
Container identification, seal verification, cargo count and photographic records.
Vessel / shipment
Loading supervision and the final independent record of what left Nigeria.
NESS documentation and certification
Following completion of the applicable inspection and documentation requirements, the relevant certification process is undertaken in accordance with the NESS framework. The framework identifies the Clean Certificate of Inspection (CCI) as part of the export inspection process, with inspection records documented for government purposes.
Our role is to undertake the inspection and verification activities within our applicable mandate, and to provide the required professional inspection documentation in accordance with the relevant procedures.
Collaboration with regulatory stakeholders
Inspection of regulated export commodities may require interaction with other authorities. Pre-Shipment Inspection Agents collaborate with the relevant agencies depending on the regulated product:
- NAFDAC
- Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)
- Plant and Animal Quarantine
- Federal Produce Inspectorate
- Other relevant authorities
Supporting transparent export trade
By independently verifying the physical characteristics and declared information relating to export cargoes, pre-shipment inspection contributes to:
Greater transparency
Independent information about the goods being exported.
Accurate trade information
Support for determining the physical characteristics and, where applicable, the value of exports.
Regulatory compliance
Support for compliance with applicable export requirements.
Reduced disputes
An independent record of the cargo presented for shipment.
Better documentation
Structured inspection information maintained for relevant stakeholders.
Trade facilitation
Potential discrepancies identified before cargo is shipped.
Why Carmine Assayer for NESS
Experienced
Our work in non-oil export inspection gives us a firm understanding of the Nigerian export environment.
Independent
Objective inspection findings based on physical evidence and the applicable requirements.
Multidisciplinary
Technical resources across agriculture, engineering, analytical science, commerce and logistics.
Evidence-based
Findings supported by documented observations, measurements and relevant evidence.
Responsive
Export transactions are time-sensitive; our inspection processes are structured for them.
Data-driven
Inspection information captured, processed and reported to support transparency and decision-making.
Supporting Nigeria's non-oil export ambition
From exporter to warehouse. Warehouse to terminal. Terminal to port. Nigeria to the international market.
Nigeria's non-oil export sector spans agricultural commodities, processed products, raw materials and manufactured goods. Our role in the inspection and verification of those exports contributes to a more transparent export environment by providing independent information about goods before they leave the country.
Request a NESS inspectionNeed an inspection arranged?
Tell us the cargo, the location and the date. We will confirm scope, personnel and reporting format.