NPERA Deploys New Powers to Reform Port Sector, Attract Investment — Akutah

 

NPERA Deploys New

 Powers to Reform Port Sector, Attract Investment — Akutah

 By Hypenews Reports 

The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Dr. Pius Akutah, MON, has said the newly enacted NPERA Act 2026 has vested the Agency with the necessary powers to sanitise Nigeria’s port sector, promote fair competition and protect investments.

Akutah made this known when the executives of the Maritime Correspondents Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON), led by its President, Mr. Ismaïl Aniemu, paid a courtesy visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

The NPERA chief executive commended MARCON and the wider maritime media for their sustained support and advocacy over the years, describing the enactment of the NPERA Act as a collective achievement that involved the contributions of stakeholders across the maritime sector.

 Every hand was on deck to get us to where we are, and we need every hand on deck to move forward from here,” he said.

Akutah stressed that the NPERA Act represented more than a change in nomenclature, noting that the legislation had significantly strengthened the Agency’s regulatory responsibilities and enforcement powers.

According to him, the immediate priority is to translate the provisions of the new law into tangible improvements across Nigeria’s port sector, particularly in efficiency, fair competition, investment protection and trade facilitation.

 

 

“If we look at the law, and I ask everybody to go and read the law very well, it has given us enormous powers to sanitise the port sector,” Akutah said.

He explained that NPERA would deploy its regulatory mandate to promote a level playing field among port service providers and users, regulate tariffs, establish standards and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.

The Director-General further stated that the new legal framework would provide stronger deterrence against activities capable of undermining port operations and trade facilitation.

He noted that regulatory infractions could attract fines, while certain offences could result in criminal prosecution and imprisonment, depending on the provisions of the law.

“The law is no respecter of persons. It will be applied in a very firm but effective manner to achieve the purpose for which it was made,” he said.

Akutah said the port-sector reforms were consistent with the Federal Government’s broader economic diversification agenda and its objective of strengthening the maritime sector as a major contributor to national economic growth.

He noted that the ambition of building a trillion-dollar economy by 2030 would require an efficient, competitive and properly regulated maritime sector capable of attracting, facilitating and protecting both domestic and international investment.

According to him, effective economic regulation would be critical to creating an environment in which investors can operate with greater certainty while port users benefit from improved services and fairer market conditions.

On dispute resolution, the NPERA boss disclosed that the Agency would strengthen its alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms to reduce the time and cost associated with resolving maritime-related disputes.

He explained that efficient dispute resolution was essential to ensuring that commercial disagreements do not unnecessarily disrupt port operations, investment or trade facilitation.

 

 

“It is better for us to find alternative ways of resolving these disputes so that it does not, in the long run, hamper our business and trade facilitation efforts,” he said.

Akutah also disclosed that discussions had commenced with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) regarding the transfer of inland dry port development functions.

He explained that the separation of regulatory and infrastructure-development responsibilities was important for maintaining the independence and effectiveness of economic regulation.

“As a regulator, we cannot be regulating the sector and also promoting the development of infrastructure within the sector,” he said.

He further disclosed that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy had provided direction towards achieving greater clarity in the mandates of relevant government agencies, with the aim of preventing overlapping responsibilities and inter-agency conflicts under the new regulatory framework.

Earlier, the President of MARCON, Mr. Ismaïl Aniemu, congratulated Akutah on the enactment of the NPERA Act, describing it as the culmination of years of advocacy, engagement and contributions by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and other maritime stakeholders.

Aniemu said the new economic regulatory framework had the potential to create a stronger environment for efficiency, investment and competitiveness in Nigerian ports.

He, however, stressed that the effectiveness of the new framework would ultimately depend on its implementation.

 

 

The MARCON President pledged the organisation’s continued support for NPERA, particularly in its efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian ports and position the country as a leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.

Aniemu also commended Akutah’s contributions to maritime dispute resolution and the promotion of fairness within the industry.

He said MARCON would maintain its partnership with NPERA as the Agency moves from legislation to implementation, while continuing to perform its watchdog role and use the media to highlight reforms capable of improving efficiency, competitiveness and transparency in Nigeria’s port sector.

He reaffirmed MARCON’s commitment to supporting initiatives that can strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional maritime hub and advance the country’s maritime economy.

Hypenews Report