President gives final approval to Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026, ushering in new era for maritime sector
President Bola Tinubu has officially assented to the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, 2026, finally establishing a statutory economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector after years of legislative delays and interim arrangements.
The landmark development was announced by Dr Pius Akutah, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), who took to his Facebook page to express gratitude to the President.
“Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026. Thank you Mr. President for making it a reality,” Akutah wrote.
A Decade in the Making
The enactment marks the culmination of over a decade of advocacy and legislative efforts to create a dedicated regulatory framework for Nigeria’s ports. Since the concession of port operations, the Federal Government had operated under an interim arrangement, designating the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the economic regulator in 2014 pending substantive legislation.
The absence of a comprehensive statutory framework had compelled the Council to perform its regulatory functions largely through government policies rather than enforceable legal provisions.
What the New Law Entails
The NPERA legislation is designed to provide robust legal backing for economic regulation of port activities, encompassing:
· Tariff oversight and rate regulation
· Competition monitoring and enforcement
· Licensing of port service providers
· Commercial dispute resolution mechanisms
Road to Enactment
The journey to presidential assent was marked by legislative hurdles. An earlier version of the bill had been transmitted to the Presidency but was withheld by President Tinubu following concerns from stakeholders and maritime agencies over potential duplication of functions with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
After the National Assembly revisited the legislation to address identified issues, an amended version was passed in April 2026 following the rescission of earlier decisions and a thorough review of legal and procedural concerns.
Industry Expectations
The development is expected to generate significant interest among terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, importers, and exporters, particularly regarding:
· Implementation timeline and transition arrangements
· Governance structure of the new agency
· Operational scope and regulatory powers
· Transition from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to NPERA
Dr Akutah had previously emphasized that the NPERA regime would establish a stronger, independent regulatory framework with enforceable legal powers, ultimately creating a more efficient, competitive, and investment-friendly maritime industry.
Next Steps
Industry observers are now awaiting clarification on the commencement date, transitional provisions, and the specific regulatory functions that will become operational under the new Act.
