The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has ordered the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to assume responsibility for the functions of Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) currently handled by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
The directive aimed at separating port economic regulation, development and operational responsibilities is part of a broader reform of Nigeria’s port sector following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Act, 2026.
In a statement, the Minister also directed the immediate constitution of a Ministerial Committee to oversee the transition of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council into the newly established Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency.
The reform will see the NSC, which has served as Nigeria’s interim port economic regulator since 2014, formally transformed into NPERA.
According to the Minister, the NPERA Act represents a major step in efforts to establish a substantive statutory economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector after more than two decades of attempts.
Under the new arrangement, NPERA will focus on economic regulatory functions, including the regulation of tariffs and charges, promotion of competition, licensing, service standards, commercial dispute resolution and the protection of port users.
Explaining the decision to transfer the IDP functions to the NPA, the Minister said the move would ensure a clearer division of responsibilities among agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
“We must get this transition right. The credibility and effectiveness of an economic regulator depend, in part, on its ability to function as an impartial referee without responsibilities that could create actual or perceived conflicts of interest,” he said.
He added, “A regulator cannot function as an operator and, at the same time, be expected to be perceived as an unbiased referee.”
The Minister said the objective of the reform was to ensure that agencies within the ministry operate under clearly defined mandates, while eliminating overlapping responsibilities and improving transparency in the maritime sector.
“Our objective is to ensure that agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy operate within clearly defined mandates, eliminating overlapping responsibilities while strengthening transparency and creating a more predictable operating environment for port users, investors, terminal operators, shipping companies and other stakeholders,” he stated.
He said the transfer of Inland Dry Port functions to the NPA would also strengthen the development and integration of the facilities within Nigeria’s broader port infrastructure.
“The transfer of IDP functions to the NPA will strengthen our inland dry ports by placing their promotion within an institution better positioned to integrate the facilities into our wider port infrastructure and operational network,” he said.
The Inland Dry Ports are expected to play an important role in easing pressure on seaports, bringing port services closer to businesses in the hinterland and improving the movement of cargo across the country.
The Minister described the establishment of NPERA as a new phase in the governance of Nigeria’s port sector, with the new agency expected to provide a stronger and more independent framework for economic regulation.
“The emergence of NPERA marks a new chapter in the governance of Nigeria’s port sector. We are committed to ensuring a seamless transition and building a more efficient, integrated and competitive port system that serves the entire country,” he said.
The proposed transition is expected to redefine responsibilities within the sector, strengthen regulatory independence and create a clearer operating environment for investors and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry.