Tinubu Approves New Ports Regulator For Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has approved the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill 2026, paving the way for the establishment of a dedicated body to regulate economic activities within Nigeria’s port sector.

According to Ireporter Online, the approval was disclosed on Wednesday by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Pius Akutah, in a social media post.

The proposed legislation is expected to establish a clear legal framework for economic regulation across the country’s ports and create an agency with defined powers and responsibilities.

The development follows years of efforts by the Federal Government and the National Assembly to establish a permanent statutory regulator for the port industry.

Since the concession of Nigeria’s ports, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has served as the interim economic regulator, having been assigned the role by the Federal Government in 2014.

However, the Council’s regulatory authority has largely operated under government policies and existing regulations due to the absence of a dedicated law granting it comprehensive statutory powers.

With the approval of the NPERA Bill, the government is expected to strengthen the regulation of key economic activities in the port sector, including tariffs, charges, rates, competition and licensing of service providers.

The new framework is also expected to establish clearer mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes involving terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders and other businesses operating within Nigeria’s port system.

The development is expected to provide greater certainty for stakeholders while strengthening oversight and promoting efficiency and competition within the maritime industry.