ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has signed into law the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, 2026, establishing a dedicated economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector and ending years of interim regulatory arrangements.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the development was confirmed by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Pius Akutah, in a Facebook post on Wednesday . “Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026. Thank you Mr. President for making it a reality,” Akutah stated.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the legislation has been in the works for several years, with successive National Assemblies attempting to establish a statutory framework following the concession of Nigeria’s ports. The Federal Government had in 2014 designated the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as interim port economic regulator pending the enactment of a substantive law .
The new law provides the port regulator with stronger legal backing to oversee tariffs, rates, charges, competition, licensing of service providers and resolution of commercial disputes. It follows an amended version passed by the National Assembly in April 2026 after President Tinubu earlier withheld assent over identified issues, including conflicts with the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA) 2025 .
The journey had not been without controversy, with stakeholders raising concerns over possible duplication of functions with NPA and NIMASA. The new law is expected to contribute to a more efficient, competitive and investment-friendly maritime industry .
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