New era of port regulation for Nigeria
Regulator formally established as Act signed into law
NIGERIA: Nigeria’s port sector has entered a new regulatory era, with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council formally transitioning into the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA).
The transition follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's assent to Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026, establishing the Agency as the statutory authority responsible for the economic regulation of the ports in the country.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Chairman of the NPERA Governing Board, Dr Ibrahim Shema, CON, described the development as a major institutional reform that is aimed at creating a more transparent, predictable, and competitive port environment.
He added that NPERA will be responsible for the economic regulation of port services and related activities, including tariffs and charges, licensing, service standards, fair competition, commercial dispute resolution, trade facilitation and protection of port users.
Dr Shema said the new framework is expected to provide greater regulatory certainty for Shipping Lines and Terminal Operators, while offering Importers, Exporters, Freight Forwarders and Clearing Agents more predictable procedures, fairer charges and improved mechanisms for resolving disputes.
He also clarified that the establishment of NPERA does not create a competing authority with the Nigerian Ports Authority. While the Nigerian Ports Authority will retain responsibility for port infrastructure and its landlord functions, NPERA will provide independent economic oversight within its statutory mandate.
The Board Chairman said the Agency's regulatory approach will be anchored on five principles: transparency, fairness, predictability, efficiency, and accountability.
He added that NPERA would deploy technology and data to strengthen licensing, tariff administration, monitoring, compliance, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
The agency also plans to work with key maritime institutions, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, NIMASA and the Nigeria Customs Service, as well as terminal operators, shipping lines, freight forwarders, manufacturers, investors and other industry stakeholders.
Dr Shema said the immediate priority is to ensure an orderly transition from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to NPERA, while maintaining continuity in essential regulatory functions and preserving institutional knowledge.
He stressed that the success of the new agency would ultimately be measured by its impact on port users and the wider economy.
According to him, effective implementation of the Act should translate into better services, greater efficiency, lower uncertainty, fair competition, and stronger trade facilitation.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NPERA, Dr Akutah Pius (MON), speaking at the event, expressed optimism that the new law would significantly clarify the regulatory environment governing Nigeria’s ports within the next one or two years.
He stated that the NPERA act will give the agency stronger powers to improve commercial dispute resolution and protect the interests and welfare of the port users and other stakeholders
He added that with the new regulatory framework, the agency will deliver a more efficient, transparent, and competitive Nigerian port system.
The transition marks the culmination of years of efforts to establish a permanent statutory economic regulator for Nigeria’s ports.
With NPERA now taking the helm, attention shifts from the passage of the law to its implementation.
Writing about the development in an online statement, Stren & Blan Partners, notes that the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act establishes a substantive legal framework for the economic regulation of Nigeria’s ports, strengthening the regulatory architecture governing commercial activities within the port sector.
The company adds that attention will now need to be placed on delineating the functions of the new regulatory structure alongside existing maritime agencies, especially to minimise regulatory overlap, duplication of functions and jurisdictional conflicts.
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