President Bola Tinubu has signed the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, 2026, bringing Nigeria closer to establishing a dedicated economic regulator for the port industry.
The development was announced by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Pius Akutah, in a post on his Facebook page. Akutah expressed appreciation to the President for giving the legislation his assent.
“Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026. Thank you Mr. President for making it a reality,” he stated.
The President’s assent marks a major step in Nigeria’s longstanding attempt to create a statutory framework for regulating the economic activities of its ports. The NPERA Bill has been under consideration for several years, following the concession of Nigeria’s ports and the need for a dedicated economic regulator.
In 2014, the Federal Government designated the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the interim economic regulator of the ports pending the passage of a substantive law. However, the absence of a dedicated Act meant the Council had largely exercised its regulatory responsibilities through government policies and existing regulations.
The new legislation is expected to provide stronger legal backing for economic regulation across the port sector. Its responsibilities are expected to cover tariffs, rates, charges, competition, licensing of port service providers and commercial dispute resolution.
Akutah had previously described the proposed framework as an important step towards creating a more structured and efficient regulatory system for the maritime industry. He said the legislation would provide the regulator with clearer and enforceable legal powers. The journey to the legislation, however, was marked by disagreements among stakeholders.
Earlier versions raised concerns about possible duplication of responsibilities involving the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and other maritime institutions.
Stakeholders had consequently called for clearly defined mandates to prevent regulatory conflicts within the sector. The Bill was initially passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to the Presidency, but President Tinubu withheld assent after concerns emerged over some provisions.
The National Assembly subsequently reviewed the legislation, addressed the identified issues and passed an amended version in April 2026. The Senate’s fresh consideration followed a rescission of its earlier decision after lawmakers identified legal and procedural matters requiring correction.
The amended legislation subsequently completed the legislative process, raising expectations that Nigeria would finally have a statutory economic regulator for its ports. With Tinubu’s assent, attention is now expected to shift towards implementation.
Terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, importers, exporters and other stakeholders will be watching how the new regulatory framework affects tariffs, charges, competition and commercial disputes. The immediate implementation process is expected to clarify the commencement date of the Act and the transition from the existing Nigerian Shippers’ Council arrangement.
It will also determine the governing structure of NPERA and the specific powers that will become operational under the new law. The establishment of the agency is expected to provide greater regulatory certainty and strengthen Nigeria’s ambition to develop a more efficient, competitive and investment-friendly port sector.
