President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, 2026 into law, giving the Nigerian Shippers’ Council a stronger official role as the port’s economic regulator. The new law provides legal backing and real enforcement powers that the Council previously lacked.

This legislation has been a long time coming. Since 2015, the Council has been operating under loose, informal guidelines without a clear legal foundation. The new Act finally puts a structured regulatory framework in place.

Under the law, the Council can now oversee tariffs, licensing, and dispute resolution across the port sector. The goal is simple: rein in operators who have acted with impunity for too long and create a fairer system for everyone.

The bill wasn’t without its share of controversy. There were ongoing concerns about overlapping responsibilities with other agencies, including the Nigerian Ports Authority and NIMASA. But after technical corrections and review, the National Assembly passed the final harmonised version in April 2026.

Stakeholders in the sector are optimistic. Many believe the Act could transform how ports are regulated, ushering in a new era of accountability and fairness—especially when it comes to tariffs and charges.

Looking ahead, the next steps involve clarifying the formalities around the transition to NPERA, defining its governance structure, and setting out its operational powers. The broader ambition is to make Nigeria’s maritime sector more competitive and efficient.

It’s a new chapter for Nigeria’s ports—and a new sheriff is officially in town.