Senate Passes Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill After Corrections

The Nigerian Senate passed the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill 2026 on Tuesday, clearing the path for a dedicated economic regulator for the country’s ports.

The passage came after some legislative back-and-forth. The Senate had earlier transmitted an earlier version to the President, then rescinded that decision after the Ministry of Justice flagged legal and technical problems. A joint committee of lawmakers from both chambers, working with drafting experts from the Directorate of Legal Services, was set up to clean it up.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved the motion; Minority Leader Abba Moro seconded it. The revised bill went through clause-by-clause consideration before senators adopted the corrections and passed it.

If signed into law, NPERA would have powers to set economic standards for port operators, monitor compliance, and sanction those who overcharge or undercut competitors. Port users have long complained about arbitrary fees and tariff structures that terminal operators impose with little accountability — this bill is meant to address that.

The push for a ports economic regulator has been building for years, with stakeholders pointing to South Africa and Kenya as working examples. Whether NPERA ends up with the teeth to actually enforce its mandate will depend on implementation — but getting the law passed is the necessary first step.

Sources: The Nation, TheFact.ng, The Sun, Peoples Gazette