The Executive Secretary of the newly established Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Dr Pius Akutah, has said the agency will reposition Nigeria’s ports to generate more foreign exchange, attract investment and drive broader economic growth.
Akutah said NPERA would promote fair competition, transparent pricing, predictable regulations and efficient trade facilitation, while working with existing maritime agencies to eliminate regulatory conflicts and improve the business environment.
Speaking in an interview, he said the agency was created to complement, rather than compete with, institutions such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
He said the NPERA law had addressed concerns about overlapping mandates and provided a framework for greater cooperation among agencies operating in the maritime and blue economy space.
“Regulatory overlaps among the agencies involved in the blue economy, especially in the ports, are things that certainly have been addressed by this new bill,” Akutah said.
He explained that consultations among relevant agencies had taken place before the legislation was passed, adding that the focus would now be on ensuring effective implementation.
“Basically, this is quite on course, and we will continue to keep clear eyes on the way and manner in which complete cooperation will work for the interests of this country,” he said.
According to him, the agencies are not supposed to compete with one another but should combine their mandates to generate greater economic value for Nigeria.
“It is a partnership. We are not competing against each other, but working together to enhance the economy of this country,” he said.
Akutah acknowledged that the practical implementation of the law would be more important than the legislation itself, noting that NPERA would work with other stakeholders to clearly delineate areas where mandates intersect.
He said the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy would remain central to coordinating the agencies and ensuring that stakeholders work together.
“The real work, the main work, is starting now. It is not all about the law itself, but about how we navigate the law in terms of our relationship with other critical stakeholders,” he said.
On Nigeria’s ambition to become a leading maritime nation and contribute to the proposed $1 trillion economy, Akutah said the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and Nigeria’s return to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council were indications of the Federal Government’s commitment.
He noted that Nigeria had been out of the IMO Council for 14 years before returning to Category C under the leadership of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
“The creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy itself, targeting the marine and blue economy resources of this country by Mr President, was a very bold step in ensuring that Nigeria becomes a maritime nation fully,” he said.
Akutah said the administration was also focused on developing infrastructure and strengthening the legal framework governing the sector, with the broader objective of positioning Nigeria as a maritime logistics hub for West and Central Africa.
On NPERA’s economic impact, he said the agency’s statutory role as port economic regulator would provide greater predictability for businesses and encourage both local and foreign investment.
“Today, as the port economic regulator by legislation, it means that we enhance fair play in this sector. We will ensure that there is predictability for businesses,” he said.
Akutah added that increased efficiency in the ports could help Nigeria earn more foreign exchange and reduce pressure on the naira.
“We will ensure that this sector, which contributes maximally to foreign exchange earnings and all of that, will reduce the pressure that foreign exchange has put on the naira by ensuring that our economy takes off from here and overtakes all other sectors,” he said.
He also assured operators that NPERA would not become another layer of bureaucracy. Rather, the agency would work with existing regulators to clarify responsibilities and eliminate duplication.
On the transition to the new regulatory framework, Akutah said NPERA’s board had already approved the establishment of a transition committee within the management.
According to him, the committee would develop a programme of action for implementing the new law and guide the agency through the transition process.
He said existing licences, approvals and services would be addressed through engagement with relevant agencies and stakeholders to ensure that implementation does not disrupt operations.
Looking ahead, Akutah said stakeholders should begin to see noticeable changes within one to two years of the agency’s full implementation.
He recalled that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council had been designated as the port economic regulator in 2014 through a presidential order, but said the arrangement lacked the comprehensive statutory backing now provided by the NPERA law.
He said the new legislation would enable the regulator to focus on fair pricing, reasonable service costs, healthy competition and improved revenue generation.
Akutah also identified trade facilitation and dispute resolution as key priorities, saying NPERA would promote engagement among stakeholders and strengthen mechanisms for resolving disputes in the sector.
He expressed optimism that within five years, NPERA would have established a clear regulatory identity and potentially become a model for other port economic regulators around the world.
He said the ultimate goal was to improve the welfare of workers in the sector, increase government revenue, facilitate trade across the sub-region and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a major maritime hub.
