Maritime Stakeholders Urge Tinubu to Sign NPERA Bill

Industry leaders in Nigeria’s maritime sector are intensifying calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant presidential assent to the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, describing its signing as a critical New Year’s gift that could transform the country’s port economy and unlock long-delayed reforms. 

The NPERA Bill, which has already been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, is designed to establish a dedicated economic regulatory agency for Nigeria’s port system, consolidating oversight, setting tariffs, resolving disputes and curbing arbitrary charges that have long hindered efficiency and competitiveness at the nation’s seaports. Stakeholders argue that the current fragmented regulatory framework involving multiple agencies with overlapping mandates has contributed to inefficiencies and discouraged investment.

At recent maritime industry engagements, experts emphasised that signing the Bill into law would empower the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to assume a stronger, clearer role as the lead port economic regulator and bring greater transparency, fair pricing and accountability to the sector. They have called for the President to act promptly, saying that assent before the new year would signal strong political will to support long-awaited structural reforms.

Supporters of the legislation also note that NPERA would help resolve longstanding inter-agency turf disputes a major obstacle to improved port performance and align Nigeria with global best practices in port governance, potentially boosting trade, reducing logistics costs and encouraging foreign and domestic investment in maritime infrastructure.

By Oshuniran Sheriff Ola