President Bola Tinubu has signed into law the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, 2026, a landmark legislation expected to reshape the regulation of Nigeria’s maritime sector and strengthen oversight of port operations across the country.

The new law formally transforms the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) into a statutory economic regulator for the nation’s ports, ending years of operating under interim arrangements and policy directives.

The development was disclosed on Thursday by the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Dr Pius Akutah, who announced the presidential assent on his verified Facebook page.

“Thank you Mr President for making the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026 a reality,” Akutah wrote.

Although official details regarding the implementation framework and transition process were yet to be released as of press time, maritime stakeholders described the presidential assent as a major milestone in the long-running effort to establish a dedicated economic regulator for Nigeria’s port industry.

Maritime expert, Dr Eugene Nweke, said the enactment of the law marked the culmination of years of legislative and policy efforts aimed at creating a clear regulatory structure for the sector following the concession of Nigerian ports in 2006.

According to him, the Federal Government had appointed the NSC as the interim economic regulator in 2014 pending the passage of a substantive law.

He explained that the council had since been carrying out regulatory responsibilities largely on the strength of government policies and a 2015 gazette, despite lacking a comprehensive legal framework.

“With this Act, the regulator now has clear statutory authority to oversee tariffs, rates, charges, competition issues and the licensing of service providers within the port ecosystem,” Nweke said.

He added that the legislation would also provide a stronger legal basis for resolving commercial disputes and promoting transparency in port operations.

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Industry observers believe the law could enhance investor confidence by establishing clearer rules for operators while improving accountability among service providers.

The journey to the enactment of the legislation was, however, not without controversy.

Previous versions of the bill attracted criticism from some stakeholders who expressed concerns that the proposed agency’s responsibilities could overlap with those of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

A clearing agent, Hajia Bola Muse, alongside other stakeholders, had called for a clearer separation of functions among maritime agencies to prevent regulatory clashes and duplication of responsibilities.

The bill was initially passed by both chambers of the National Assembly in late 2025 but was returned by President Tinubu over provisions considered inconsistent with the Tax Administration Act, 2025.

Following consultations and legislative amendments, lawmakers harmonised the contentious sections and re-passed the bill in April 2026 before securing presidential approval.

Stakeholders across the maritime sector have welcomed the signing of the law, describing it as the beginning of a new era in port regulation and governance.

Many industry players expressed optimism that the new agency would strengthen regulatory enforcement, improve service delivery and create a more competitive and efficient port environment.

For the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the legislation represents a significant institutional transformation, positioning it to exercise broader regulatory authority in a sector regarded as critical to Nigeria’s trade and economic growth.