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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has directed the transfer of inland dry port (IDP) functions from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), as the Federal Government moves to separate port regulation from development and operations.
Oyetola also directed the immediate constitution of a ministerial committee to oversee the transition of the NSC into the newly established Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the NPERA Act 2026.
The directives, announced in a statement by the Minister’s Special Adviser, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, in Abuja on Thursday, are aimed at eliminating overlapping responsibilities and establishing clearer mandates for agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The NPERA Act, signed by President Tinubu in August, formally establishes a substantive economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector, ending a two-decade wait for a dedicated statutory port economic regulator.
Under the new framework, the NSC, which has served as Nigeria’s interim port economic regulator since 2014, will transmute into NPERA.
The agency will focus primarily on regulating tariffs and charges, promoting competition, licensing, service standards, commercial dispute resolution and protecting port users.
Oyetola said the transition presents an opportunity to establish a regulator that is clearly separated from operational, developmental and promotional responsibilities.
“We must get the transition right. The establishment of NPERA is a landmark reform, and the process of moving from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency must be carefully managed,” he said.
According to the Minister, the committee will provide oversight to ensure a seamless transition and that every function is domiciled in the appropriate institution.
He stressed that an effective economic regulator must operate as an impartial referee and should not be burdened with responsibilities that could create actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
“The emergence of NPERA marks a new chapter in the governance of Nigeria’s port sector. It is therefore important that the new economic regulator is freed from functions that are not compatible with economic regulation,” Oyetola said.
He added that separating responsibilities would strengthen confidence in the regulatory framework, improve transparency and create a more predictable operating environment for port users, investors, terminal operators, shipping companies and other stakeholders.
On inland dry ports, Oyetola said the transfer should not be viewed as a reduction in the Federal Government’s commitment to their development.
Rather, he said, the move is intended to strengthen the IDP programme by placing its promotion within an institution better positioned to integrate the facilities into Nigeria’s wider port infrastructure and operational network.
“We are committed to strengthening the development of the Inland Dry Ports by placing their promotion within the agency with the appropriate operational and infrastructure mandate. The ultimate objective is to create a more efficient and integrated port system that serves the entire country,” he added.
