Nigeria’s maritime will witness major shake-up under NPERA – Akutah

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, (NPERA) Act, Dr. Pius Akutah, MON, says Nigeria’s maritime sector will witness a major regulatory shake-up, with the newly enacted NPERA Act expected to curb arbitrary port charges, strengthen oversight and create a more transparent and predictable business environment.

Dr. Pius Akutah, MON, stated this at a media interaction on the implications of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the NPERA Act, 2026.

Dr. Akutah described the new legislation as a major milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s maritime sector, saying it has fundamentally changed the architecture of port economic regulation by giving NPERA clearer statutory and enforcement powers.

He explained that under the new framework, charges for regulated port services can no longer be imposed arbitrarily, as service providers will be required to comply with approved tariffs, standards, and regulatory procedures.

The NPERA Boss said the new regime represents a shift from an approach largely driven by negotiation and persuasion to one backed by clear legal authority.

He also highlighted a broader change in the agency’s mandate.

According to him, while the Nigerian Shippers’ Council primarily focused on protecting the interests of shippers, NPERA is now mandated to balance the interests of both service users and service providers.

Akutah said the new regulatory framework is expected to promote transparency, fairness and predictability across the port system while giving investors and users greater confidence in Nigeria’s maritime economy.

Despite the expanded mandate, he stressed that NPERA would not be starting from scratch.

The agency, he said, would build on the structures, workforce, institutional knowledge and experience accumulated by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council over the years.

He added that staff would undergo specialised training to equip them with the skills required to deliver on NPERA’s broader economic regulatory responsibilities.

On the transition, Akutah disclosed that an in-house steering committee had already been established, with a ministerial steering committee also expected to support the process.

He said implementation plans covering the first 30, 90 and 120 days had been developed to guide the transition and ensure a structured commencement of the agency’s mandate.

Beyond institutional preparations, Akutah identified stakeholder awareness and compliance as critical to the success of the new regime.

He said NPERA would embark on extensive sensitisation through media campaigns, jingles, stakeholder engagements and other communication platforms to ensure that operators understand their obligations under the new law.

He urged maritime operators and other stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Act and prepare for the new rules-based regulatory environment.

Akutah also assured stakeholders that NPERA would exercise its powers fairly and transparently, emphasising that the objective was regulation, not persecution.

As preparations gather pace, the NPERA DG said stakeholders should expect a number of key activities before the end of 2026, including the gazetting of the Act, a ministerial briefing, commencement of regulatory activities, publication of draft regulations and further stakeholder consultations.

He expressed confidence that the new regulatory framework would reposition Nigeria’s port economy, improve efficiency and competitiveness, and strengthen the contribution of the maritime sector to national economic growth.