On 15 October 2026, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, presented the newly gazetted [Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA)](https://www.np.gov.ng) Act and unveiled the agency’s official logo at a stakeholder engagement held in Victoria Island, Lagos, signalling the formal establishment of a dedicated port economic regulator.
The act, which received [President Bola Ahmed Tinubu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bola_Ahmed_Tinubu)’s assent in June 2026, provides a statutory framework for regulating port economics after almost twenty years of incremental reforms. Oyetola announced that a ministerial committee would be set up immediately to manage the hand‑over of responsibilities from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, which has acted as the interim regulator since 2014, to the new agency.
**What does the NPERA Act entail?**
NPERA will be tasked with setting and supervising tariffs and charges, fostering competition among service providers, enforcing minimum service standards, adjudicating commercial disputes, and safeguarding the interests of port users. The minister stressed that the agency must operate as an impartial arbiter, free from any operational duties that could create real or perceived conflicts of interest.
**How will the transition from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council be managed?**
Oyetola directed the creation of a high‑level committee within the [Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy](https://marine.gov.ng) to oversee the migration of staff, assets, and regulatory functions. The committee will ensure continuity of services while the new regulator builds its institutional capacity.
**What are the recent maritime security achievements?**
The minister highlighted that Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents in its territorial waters, a result attributed to the Deep Blue Project. He also noted the removal in August 2026 of the United States Coast Guard’s twelve‑year Condition of Entry on vessels arriving from Nigeria, a milestone that reflects compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.
**How is the government supporting indigenous shipping?**
Oyetola reaffirmed commitment to local shipping by instructing the [Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)](https://nimasa.gov.ng) to collaborate with approved Primary Lending Institutions. The goal is to speed up the processing and disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund to eligible applicants, thereby expanding the domestic fleet.
“**The credibility of an economic regulator rests, in no small measure, on its independence, impartiality and freedom from responsibilities that could give rise to actual or perceived conflicts of interest,**” Oyetola asserted during the event.
International cooperation also featured prominently. Nigeria’s election to Category C of the International Maritime Organization Council in November 2025 and ongoing dialogues with Denmark, India, Norway, and the United Kingdom were cited as examples of purposeful, results‑oriented partnerships that aim to build local capabilities and deliver sustainable outcomes.
The Danish Embassy’s ambassador, Jens Ole Bach Hansen, delivered a presentation on Denmark’s experience in building a sustainable blue economy, offering lessons for strategic partnerships, investment, and technology transfer with Nigeria.
Overall, the launch of the NPERA Act is positioned as a pivotal step toward strengthening port regulation, enhancing investor confidence, and elevating Nigeria’s maritime sector on the global stage.