The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has formally transitioned into the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), following President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026.
The new agency is now responsible for the economic regulation of Nigeria’s ports, including tariffs and charges, licensing, service standards, fair competition, commercial dispute resolution, trade facilitation and protection of port users.
Chairman of the NPERA Governing Board, Ibrahim Shema, described the transition as a major institutional reform aimed at creating a more transparent, predictable and competitive port environment.
Shema said the new regulatory framework would provide greater certainty for shipping lines and terminal operators while giving importers, exporters, freight forwarders and clearing agents more predictable procedures, fairer charges and improved mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes.
He clarified that the creation of NPERA would not result in a competing authority to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which would retain responsibility for port infrastructure and its landlord functions.
“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,” Shema said.
He noted that the agency’s regulatory approach would be anchored on five principles: transparency, fairness, predictability, efficiency and accountability.
According to him, NPERA would deploy technology and data to strengthen licensing, tariff administration, monitoring, compliance, reporting and stakeholder engagement.
Shema added that the agency would work with key maritime institutions, including the NPA, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and Nigeria Customs Service, as well as terminal operators, shipping lines, freight forwarders, manufacturers, investors and other industry stakeholders.
The chairman said the immediate priority was to ensure an orderly transition from the NSC 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.
“Effective implementation of the Act should translate into better services, greater efficiency, lower uncertainty, fair competition, and stronger trade facilitation,” Shema added.
Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NPERA, Pius Akutah, expressed optimism that the new law would significantly clarify the regulatory environment governing Nigeria’s ports within the next one to two years.
Akutah said the Act would give the agency stronger powers to improve commercial dispute resolution and protect the interests and welfare of port users and other stakeholders.
He added that the new regulatory framework would enable the agency to deliver a more efficient, transparent and competitive Nigerian port system.
