Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency begins operations

The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) has formally commenced operations following President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the NPERA Bill. The agency is established as the statutory authority for the economic regulation of Nigeria’s ports, marking a significant shift from the interim regulatory role previously held by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) since 2014.

NPERA’s mandate focuses on economic regulation, including tariff oversight, service standards, and dispute resolution, to reduce regulatory barriers and improve cargo movement. Dr. Ibrahim Shema, Chairman of the NPERA Governing Board, stated that the transition from the NSC will be orderly, addressing personnel, assets, and existing contracts.

He clarified that NPERA will not compete with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which maintains responsibility for port infrastructure and landlord functions. Instead, the new framework aims to create a coherent system based on transparency, fairness, predictability, efficiency, and accountability to enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.