President Bola Tinubu has signed the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, 2026, officially establishing a statutory economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector.
The announcement was made by Dr. Pius Akutah, Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), who expressed gratitude to the President in a social media post: “Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026. Thank you Mr. President for making it a reality.”
This marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s long-running effort to create a dedicated legal framework for port economic regulation.
Since 2014, the NSC has served as an interim regulator, operating largely on government policy rather than a comprehensive Act.
The new law empowers NPERA to oversee tariffs, rates, charges, competition, licensing of port service providers, and resolution of commercial disputes.
Akutah described the legislation as a transition to a more structured and efficient regulatory system, with enforceable powers to strengthen oversight.
The journey to enactment was not without hurdles. Earlier drafts of the Bill raised concerns among stakeholders about overlapping functions with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Following revisions, the National Assembly passed an amended version in April 2026, which has now received presidential assent.
Industry stakeholders, including terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, importers, and exporters are expected to closely monitor how the new agency will implement its mandate, particularly in areas of tariffs, competition, and dispute resolution.
Next steps will include clarifying the commencement date, transition arrangements from the NSC to NPERA, and the agency’s governing structure.
The new regime is widely expected to enhance efficiency, competitiveness, and investment in Nigeria’s maritime industry.
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