The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) has vowed to apply the full weight of its new law against infractions and disruptions of maritime activities, including imposing fines and pursuing criminal prosecution where necessary.
Director-General of NPERA, Dr Pius Akutah, disclosed this when the executive members of the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) visited the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.
Akutah said the NPERA Act 2026 had vested the agency with extensive powers to sanitise the maritime sector, establish a level playing field for port users and service providers, protect investments, regulate tariffs and improve the competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
He said the agency would not target any particular maritime service provider or port user, but would operate as an impartial regulator to ensure compliance with established rules.
The NPERA boss also said the new regulatory framework would enable the agency to generate revenue for the government through fines imposed on those who breached the law, while some offences could attract criminal prosecution and imprisonment.
He said the objective of the agency was not to create a ‘monster’ administration, but a deterrent regime capable of discouraging practices that negatively affect the logistics chain and trade.
‘The potency in the law is to help to sanitise the sector and we will have to apply the full weight of this law. That is the only time that deterrent regime will work to protect the investments that are made there,’ he said.
Akutah said the law would also strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in the maritime sector, particularly in view of the lengthy and costly nature of litigation.
According to him, the legislation would further help Nigerian ports compete with their counterparts globally by promoting excellence among service providers and port users.
He said this was also in line with the Federal Government’s target of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
The director-general disclosed that NPERA was working with other government agencies to eliminate overlapping responsibilities in the maritime sector.
He said the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, played a critical role in preventing inter-agency rivalry during the development of the NPERA law.
According to Akutah, heads of relevant agencies were brought together by the minister to review the proposed legislation paragraph by paragraph and line by line before a common version was agreed and submitted to the National Assembly.
He said the agency heads signed every page of the agreed document before it was forwarded to the National Assembly, ensuring that the version eventually passed reflected the consensus reached by the agencies.
Akutah further disclosed that the agency had commenced the process of handing over the Inland Dry Port development function to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), in line with the minister’s directive.
He expressed optimism that other agencies would also hand over responsibilities that were purely regulatory in nature, adding that the ministry was coordinating the transition to ensure that agencies operating within and outside the ministry were carried along.
The NPERA boss commended MARCON for its partnership with the agency and urged maritime journalists to continue to educate the public on the provisions of the new law and its implications for the sector.
Also speaking, MARCON President, Ismail Aniemu, commended Akutah and his team on the enactment of the legislation, describing it as a major development for the country’s maritime industry.
He acknowledged the efforts and sacrifices made by the agency in securing legislative backing for the new regulatory framework, noting the challenges involved in getting legislation through the National Assembly.
Aniemu said the achievement should not be treated as an ordinary accomplishment, adding that the NPERA Act provides a statutory framework for economic regulation of the ports.
He said the law, if properly implemented, would give the maritime industry and the wider economy a boost.
Aniemu urged Akutah to ensure that the new law translated into effective regulation capable of improving port competitiveness, reducing inefficiencies, supporting economic growth and positioning Nigeria as a maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
The MARCON president also commended Akutah’s efforts in maritime dispute resolution and promotion of fairness in the sector, expressing optimism that he would lead the authority through reforms capable of improving the performance of Nigerian ports.