President Bola Tinubu has assented to the NPERA Bill 2026, clearing the way for the creation of a dedicated economic regulator for Nigeria’s 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.
“Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026. Thank you Mr. President for making it a reality,” Akutah wrote.
Although details of the President’s assent and the implementation framework were not immediately available, the development marks a major step in Nigeria’s prolonged effort to establish a statutory economic regulatory system for its ports.
The NPERA Bill 2026 has been under consideration for several years, with successive National Assemblies attempting to establish a dedicated economic regulator following the concession of Nigeria’s ports. In 2014, the Federal Government designated the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the interim economic regulator pending the enactment of a substantive law.
However, the absence of a dedicated Act meant that the Council carried out its economic regulatory responsibilities largely through government policies and regulations rather than a comprehensive statutory framework. The new legislation is expected to provide stronger legal backing for economic regulation within the port sector.
Its areas of responsibility include tariffs, rates and charges, competition, licensing of port service providers and the resolution of commercial disputes. Akutah had previously described the proposed framework as a move towards a more structured and efficient port regulatory system.
The journey to the new law was marked by disagreements and concerns among maritime stakeholders. Earlier versions of the legislation raised questions about possible overlaps with the responsibilities of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
Stakeholders had consequently called for clearer boundaries between the agencies to prevent regulatory conflicts and duplication of functions. The Bill was initially passed by the National Assembly and forwarded to the Presidency. President Tinubu, however, withheld assent after concerns emerged over some provisions.
The National Assembly subsequently reviewed the legislation, addressed identified issues and passed an amended version in April 2026. The Senate’s fresh passage followed the rescission of its earlier decision after lawmakers identified legal and procedural issues requiring correction. The amended legislation then proceeded through the legislative process again.
With the President’s assent, the transition from the existing interim arrangement to a statutory economic regulatory framework has moved closer to reality. The development is expected to attract close attention from terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, importers, exporters and other maritime stakeholders. Key areas of interest will include how the new agency regulates tariffs, port charges, competition, licensing and commercial disputes.
The emergence of NPERA is also expected to provide greater certainty for investors and operators within the maritime sector. Akutah had said the new regulatory framework would provide a stronger foundation for a more efficient, competitive and investment-friendly Nigerian port industry.
Attention will now shift to the practical implementation of the NPERA Bill 2026. Stakeholders are expected to seek clarification on the Act’s commencement date, the transition from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to NPERA, the agency’s governing structure and the specific powers that will become operational. The implementation process will determine how the new regulator fits into Nigeria’s existing maritime institutional framework and how effectively it can address longstanding concerns over port charges, competition and regulatory efficiency.
