🎧
Listen to this article
President Bola Tinubu has signed the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, 2026, into law, formally establishing a dedicated economic regulator for the country’s maritime port sector.
The announcement was shared by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Pius Akutah, via a statement on his Facebook account, where he conveyed gratitude to the President for enacting the legislation.
“Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026. Thank you Mr. President for making it a reality,” Akutah stated in the brief post.
Although comprehensive implementation guidelines and specific operational frameworks were not immediately published, the legislative milestone concludes years of efforts to institute a permanent statutory economic framework for Nigerian ports.
The creation of a specialized regulatory agency has remained a long-term goal since the concession of national ports, with the Federal Government having appointed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as an interim regulator back in 2014.
Operating without a dedicated statute meant the council previously relied on administrative policies rather than comprehensive legislative backing to execute its oversight duties.
The newly enacted law aims to provide the regulatory authority with robust legal powers to supervise commercial operations across the ports, covering tariffs, service charges, market competition, operator licensing, and commercial dispute resolution.
Akutah previously emphasized that the NPERA regime would usher in a well-organized and efficient oversight structure equipped with enforceable legal authorities.
The legislative path toward enactment faced initial friction, as earlier drafts raised concerns among industry operators and maritime agencies regarding potential overlaps with the mandates of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Following initial reservations that prompted President Tinubu to withhold his signature, the National Assembly reviewed the document, addressed identified procedural flaws, and passed a revised version in April 2026.
The Senate’s legislative review involved rescinding prior votes to correct legal inconsistencies before retransmitting the amended document for executive approval.
With the presidential assent finalized, the maritime sector transitions away from the longstanding interim arrangement toward a permanent statutory regulatory system.
Industry participants—including terminal operators, shipping firms, freight forwarders, and traders—will closely monitor how the new agency manages pricing structures, competition, and stakeholder disputes.
Akutah previously noted that NPERA will establish a stronger foundation to foster a competitive, efficient, and investment-friendly port environment.
Anticipated next steps involve detailing the formal commencement date, managing the institutional transition from the Shippers’ Council, defining the governing board, and outlining the active regulatory powers granted under the new statute.
No Comments