President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially signed into law the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, 2026, establishing an independent economic regulator for Nigeria’s maritime and port sector.​
The landmark development was announced on Thursday, August 13, 2026, by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah, through a public statement issued from the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Expressing gratitude to the President, Dr. Akutah described the assent as a major structural milestone that transitions the Nigerian port system into an efficient, competitive, and investor-friendly regulatory framework.​
The journey toward establishing a statutory port economic regulator reached its final stage following a rigorous legislative process at the National Assembly in Abuja. The bill was originally passed by both legislative chambers in July 2024 and transmitted to the President.
However, in October 2025, President Tinubu withheld assent based on legal and operational gaps identified during a comprehensive review by the Federal Ministry of Justice. The National Assembly re-engaged the bill through a joint technical committee comprising legal experts and lawmakers.
Following a motion moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro, the Senate rescinded its previous vote and repassed the revised legislation on April 28, 2026.
Following final concurrence between the House of Representatives and the Senate, the harmonized document was re-transmitted to the State House, Abuja, leading to the President’s assent.​The newly enacted legislation formally repeals the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act (Cap N133, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) and transfers its assets, staff, and mandates to the newly created agency.
​”The NPERA regime establishes a strong, independent regulatory framework with enforceable legal powers to oversight port tariffs, enforce service standards, promote competition, and resolve commercial disputes,” stated Dr. Pius Akutah.​Under the provisions of the NPERA Act, 2026, the new agency is empowered to authorise, review, and establish cap pricing for port services, including stevedoring, terminal handling, storage, pilotage, and towage charges.
The new agency will Issue, renew, or revoke operating licenses for port service providers, terminal operators, and cargo handling firms. Agency will also Prevent Anti-Competitive Practices; Curb monopolistic behaviors, abuse of dominance, and unfair commercial practices among port operators.
It will clearly separate economic and commercial oversight (NPERA) from the operational and infrastructure management handled by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and safety mandates overseen by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
​Maritime stakeholders, including terminal operators, shipping lines, freight forwarders, and logistics firms have widely welcomed the enactment, noting that explicit economic regulation will curb illegal port charges and lower the cost of doing business in Nigeria.​
The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is expected to announce the transition timeline, governing board appointments, and the official Gazette publication detailing the operational commencement date in the coming weeks.
