The Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have begun technical discussions on the transfer of inland dry port functions to the NPA, following a directive issued by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, on September 3.
Oyetola directed the transfer of the inland dry port functions previously domiciled with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (now known as NPERA) to the NPA as part of broader reforms aimed at separating port economic regulation from development and operations.
The Minister also ordered the constitution of a ministerial committee to oversee the NSC’s transition into NPERA following the enactment of the NPERA Act, 2026.
The meeting between NPERA and NPA management on Monday focused on the technical arrangements required to give effect to the directive, including clearly defining institutional responsibilities and preventing duplication among agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
NPERA Director-General, Dr Pius Akutah, said the minister’s directive should be viewed within the broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s marine and blue economy and establish a clearer institutional framework for the port sector.
He stressed that successful implementation would require close cooperation among all relevant stakeholders, with the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy remaining central to the process.
Akutah said Minister Oyetola’s intervention while the NPERA Bill was before the National Assembly had helped resolve disagreements among agencies and created a foundation for stronger inter-agency collaboration.
He said the provisions of the NPERA Act, including Section 51, must be effectively operationalised to ensure that responsibilities are properly aligned and the new regulatory framework functions without overlapping mandates.
Akutah proposed a joint committee comprising NPERA, NPA, the National Inland Waterways Authority and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to coordinate the implementation of the minister’s directive.
He said inland dry ports remained critical to extending the benefits of Nigeria’s maritime sector into the hinterland and strengthening the country’s trade and logistics network.
Under the September 3 directive, the NPA is to assume responsibility for the inland dry port functions previously handled by the NSC, while NPERA is to focus on its role as the sector’s economic regulator.
The government said the separation is intended to eliminate overlapping responsibilities and place inland dry port development and promotion within an institution with the appropriate infrastructure and operational mandate.
Responding, NPA Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, described the directive as a welcome development and pledged the authority’s operational and technical support.
Dantsoho said the process had started with the right intention and purpose, adding that updated information on the current status of inland dry ports would be provided to support the technical discussions.