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President Bola Tinubu has assented to the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, 2026, clearing the way for the establishment of a dedicated economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector.
The development was announced by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Pius Akutah, who expressed appreciation to the President for giving his assent to the long-awaited legislation.
“Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026. Thank you Mr. President for making it a reality,” Akutah stated in a post on his Facebook page.
The President’s assent marks an important step in efforts to give Nigeria’s port economic regulation a stronger statutory foundation. For years, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has carried out economic regulatory functions at the ports under government directives and policies, following the concession of the country’s ports.
The Federal Government designated the Shippers’ Council as the interim economic regulator in 2014 while awaiting the passage of legislation establishing a permanent regulatory framework.
The new law is expected to give the port economic regulator clearer legal powers to oversee key commercial activities within the sector. These include tariffs, rates and charges, competition, licensing of port service providers and the resolution of commercial disputes.
Akutah had previously described the proposed NPERA framework as a major step towards creating a more organised and efficient regulatory system for the nation’s maritime industry. He argued that a strong statutory framework would provide greater certainty for businesses operating within the sector.
The journey to the legislation, however, has been far from straightforward. Earlier versions of the Bill attracted concerns from stakeholders and maritime agencies over possible duplication of responsibilities, particularly between the proposed agency, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Stakeholders had called for a clearer separation of functions to prevent overlapping mandates and unnecessary regulatory conflicts.
The Bill was initially passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to the Presidency, but President Tinubu withheld assent after concerns were raised over some provisions. The National Assembly subsequently returned to the legislation, addressed the identified issues and passed an amended version in April 2026.
The Senate also revisited its earlier position on the Bill after a review identified legal and procedural issues that needed to be corrected. The amended legislation subsequently went through the legislative process again, with maritime stakeholders expressing hope that its eventual enactment would bring greater stability to economic regulation at Nigerian ports.
With the President’s assent, Nigeria now moves closer to replacing the existing interim arrangement with a statutory port economic regulatory regime.
The new framework will be closely watched by terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, importers, exporters and other players in the maritime sector. Of particular interest will be how the new agency handles port tariffs, charges, competition, licensing and commercial disputes.
The immediate task will be to clarify the commencement date of the Act, the transition from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to NPERA, the structure of the new agency and the specific powers it will exercise under the new law.If properly implemented, the new regulatory regime could provide a more predictable environment for investment and competition while helping to improve the efficiency of Nigeria’s port system.
