President Bola Tinubu has signed the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill 2026 into law, clearing the way for the establishment of a statutory economic regulator for Nigeria’s port industry.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Pius Akutah, disclosed the development in a Facebook post, thanking the President for making the legislation a reality.
“Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026. Thank you Mr President for making it a reality,” Akutah stated.
The President’s assent marks the culmination of years of efforts to establish a dedicated legal framework for regulating the economic activities of Nigeria’s ports.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has operated as the interim economic regulator since 2014, when the Federal Government assigned it the responsibility pending the enactment of a substantive law.
The arrangement was introduced following the concession of the nation’s ports but left the Council exercising its regulatory functions largely through government policies and regulations.
The new Act is expected to provide a clearer statutory foundation for economic regulation in the sector and strengthen oversight of commercial activities at the ports.
Among the areas expected to come under the new regulatory framework are tariffs, rates and charges, competition, licensing of port service providers and the resolution of commercial disputes.
Akutah had earlier said the NPERA framework would usher in a more structured regulatory regime, providing the sector with an independent regulator backed by enforceable legal powers.
Bill faced legislative hurdles
The legislation passed through several stages before receiving presidential approval.
Earlier versions of the Bill generated concerns among maritime stakeholders and government agencies over possible duplication of responsibilities.
In particular, questions were raised about the relationship between the proposed agency and existing institutions, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Stakeholders had urged lawmakers to clearly define the responsibilities of the different agencies in order to avoid regulatory conflicts and overlapping mandates.
The National Assembly had initially passed the Bill and forwarded it to the Presidency, but Tinubu withheld his assent after concerns were raised about some provisions.
Lawmakers subsequently reviewed the legislation, made amendments and passed a revised version in April 2026.
The Senate’s reconsideration followed the rescission of its earlier decision after a review identified legal and procedural issues requiring attention.
The amended Bill then proceeded through the legislative process before eventually securing presidential assent.
Focus shifts to implementation
Following the enactment, attention will now turn to the practical implementation of the new law.
The authorities are expected to clarify when the Act will take effect, how the transition from the Shippers’ Council to NPERA will be managed and how the new agency will be constituted.
The scope of its powers and the specific regulatory functions to be transferred to the agency are also expected to be outlined.
The development is likely to have significant implications for terminal operators, shipping lines, freight forwarders, importers, exporters and other businesses operating within the port ecosystem.
Industry stakeholders will particularly be watching how NPERA handles port tariffs, charges, competition and commercial disputes.
The establishment of a dedicated economic regulator is expected to provide greater certainty for investors and operators while strengthening the efficiency and competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
For the Shippers’ Council, the development marks a transition from its long-standing interim role as economic regulator to a new phase in which a statutory agency will assume responsibility for regulating the commercial and economic dimensions of port operations.
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