President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assented to the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, 2026, paving the way for the establishment of a dedicated statutory economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector.
The development was disclosed by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah, in a post on his Facebook page, where he expressed appreciation to the President for assenting to the legislation.
“Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026. Thank you Mr. President for making it a reality,” Akutah stated.
The assent marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s longstanding efforts to put in place a comprehensive legal framework for economic regulation of the ports. The Federal Government had, in 2014, designated the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the interim economic regulator of the ports pending the enactment of a substantive law. The absence of a dedicated Act had left the Council performing its regulatory functions largely on the strength of government policy and regulations rather than a full statutory framework.
The new legislation seeks to give the port economic regulator stronger legal backing to oversee economic activities in the sector. This includes regulation of tariffs, rates and charges, promotion of competition, licensing of port service providers, and resolution of commercial disputes.
The journey to the new law was not without challenges. Earlier versions of the legislation attracted concerns from stakeholders and some maritime agencies over possible duplication of functions with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Stakeholders had called for clearer delineation of responsibilities to prevent 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 certain aspects of the legislation. The National Assembly subsequently revisited the Bill, corrected the identified issues, and passed an amended version in April 2026.
With the President’s assent, the long-awaited transition from the existing interim regulatory arrangement to a full statutory port economic regulatory regime now moves closer to implementation.
The development is expected to be closely watched by terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, importers, exporters and other port stakeholders, particularly regarding how the new agency will handle tariffs, charges, competition and dispute resolution within the Nigerian port system.
Dr. Akutah had previously noted that the emergence of NPERA would create a more solid regulatory foundation for the port sector, contributing to a more efficient, competitive and investment-friendly maritime industry.
Immediate next steps are expected to include clarification of the commencement date, transition arrangements from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to NPERA, the agency’s governing structure, and the specific regulatory powers and functions that will become operational under the new Act.