President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assented to the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, 2026, providing a statutory framework for the economic regulation of Nigeria’s port sector and strengthening the legal status of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
The development was announced on Thursday by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Pius Akutah, through his verified Facebook page.
“Thank you Mr President for making the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026 a reality,” Akutah stated.
Details of the presidential assent and the implementation framework were not immediately available as of press time.
Maritime expert Dr Eugene Nweke described the development as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s port reform efforts, saying the new law would pave the way for a statutory economic regulator with powers to sanction port operators that violate established regulations.
According to Nweke, the legislation has been in the works for several years, particularly following the concession of Nigeria’s seaports in 2006.
He explained that the Federal Government had designated the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as an interim economic regulator in 2014, pending the enactment of substantive legislation to provide a firm legal foundation for its regulatory functions.
“Without an Act, the council performed regulatory functions based on policy and a 2015 government gazette,” Nweke said.
He added that the new legislation would give the regulator clearer authority over port tariffs, rates, charges, competition and the licensing of service providers.
The Act, he said, would also provide a statutory framework for resolving commercial disputes within Nigeria’s port sector.
Concerns Over Regulatory Overlap
Earlier versions of the legislation had generated concerns among stakeholders over possible duplication of functions between the proposed economic regulator, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
A clearing agent, Hajia Bola Muse, and other industry stakeholders had called for clearer delineation of responsibilities among the agencies to prevent regulatory conflicts and overlapping mandates.
The stakeholders said both chambers of the National Assembly passed the Bill in late 2025, but President Tinubu returned it to the lawmakers following concerns over potential conflicts with the Tax Administration Act, 2025.
The National Assembly subsequently addressed the identified issues and passed a harmonised version of the Bill in April 2026.
The presidential assent has now been welcomed by maritime stakeholders, who see the development as a new phase in the regulation of Nigeria’s port economy.
Some stakeholders described the development as making the Nigerian Shippers’ Council “a new sheriff in town,” reflecting expectations of stronger oversight, greater regulatory certainty and improved accountability in the port sector.
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