The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have begun discussions on transferring some inland dry port-related functions to NPERA.

The talk followed the directives from the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to both Agencies.

The Federal Government had, two weeks ago, begun a major restructuring of Nigeria’s port governance system, transferring inland dry port functions from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to the Nigerian Ports Authority as the Shippers’ Council transmutes into the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency.

The move is aimed at streamlining overlap functions among Agencies in the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry.

Stakeholders had earlier expressed fears since the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy created NPERA.

Stakeholders had flagged duplication across agencies like the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Navy, as well Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

The reform, directed by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, is designed to separate port economic regulation from infrastructure development and operations, with potential implications for tariffs, competition, investment and the cost of doing business across Nigeria’s maritime supply chain.

Under the new framework, NPERA will assume responsibility for regulating port tariffs and charges, promoting competition, licensing, service standards, commercial dispute resolution and protecting port users.

The Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Bolaji Akinola, in a statement on Thursday, said the clearer separation of responsibilities is intended to strengthen regulatory independence and provide a more predictable operating environment for terminal operators, shipping companies, importers, exporters and investors.

He said the creation of NPERA provides an opportunity to establish an economic regulator that can operate without functions capable of creating actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

What is an inland dry port?

An inland dry port is a facility located away from the coastline where cargo can be received, handled, stored, cleared and transferred to and from seaports.

They are designed to bring port services closer to businesses and importers in the hinterland, reducing pressure on seaports and improving the movement of goods.

For Nigeria, inland dry ports can also provide an alternative logistics route for businesses located far from Lagos and other coastal ports.

Why is NPERA involved?

NPERA was established as the economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector.

The Director-General of NPERA, Dr. Pius Akuta, explained that its responsibilities include regulating economic activities, promoting competition, overseeing tariffs and charges, protecting port users and addressing disputes within the sector.

Therefore, the transfer of relevant inland dry port functions is intended to bring those activities within the agency’s economic regulatory framework.

According to NPERA, the technical discussions will address possible overlaps among NPERA, NPA, NIWA and other government institutions. According to him, the objective is to establish clear lines of responsibility and prevent two or more agencies from exercising the same regulatory or operational function.

Why does Section 51 of the NPERA Act matter?

NPERA Director-General, Dr. Pius Akutah, specifically referred to Section 51 of the NPERA Act, saying its provisions need to be operationalised to facilitate the transition.

The section forms part of the legal framework guiding the transfer and alignment of relevant functions under the new regulatory structure.

Its implementation will therefore be important in determining how existing responsibilities are redistributed.

What happens to the NPA?

The discussions do not mean that NPA will cease to have a role in inland dry ports.

NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, said the authority would provide operational and technical support to the transition.

NPA will also provide updated information on the current status of inland dry ports to assist the process.

The key issue is therefore the separation of economic regulation from operational responsibilities, rather than the withdrawal of NPA from the inland port system.

Is NIWA involved?

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is among the agencies proposed for the transition committee because inland logistics can involve Nigeria’s waterways.

Its inclusion is intended to help ensure that responsibilities involving inland navigation and other relevant waterways functions are properly aligned with the roles of NPERA and NPA.

What role will the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry play?

The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is expected to remain central to the transition.

Akutah said the proposed committee would reconvene with Minister Adegboyega Oyetola for further clarification and to agree on the next steps.

This places the ministry in a coordinating role as agencies adjust their mandates under the new regulatory framework.

What could the transition achieve?

If properly implemented, clearer institutional responsibilities could help reduce regulatory overlaps and uncertainty for operators using inland dry ports.

It could also strengthen the role of dry ports in Nigeria’s wider trade and logistics network by connecting seaports more efficiently with businesses and markets in the hinterland.

What remains unresolved?

Several practical questions still have to be settled, including: Which specific inland dry port functions will move to NPERA? Which responsibilities will remain with NPA?

What functions belong to NIWA and other agencies?

How will existing licences, approvals and regulatory processes be handled?

How will potential duplication of charges and regulatory requirements be avoided?

What will be the implementation timeline?

The proposed joint committee is expected to address these issues before the transition is fully implemented.

The NPERA-NPA meeting marks the technical beginning of a broader institutional transition in Nigeria’s inland dry port system.

The immediate objective is not merely to transfer functions, but to establish clearer regulatory boundaries among NPERA, NPA, NIWA and the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry.

How those responsibilities are ultimately defined and implemented will determine whether the reform reduces duplication and strengthens the contribution of inland dry ports to Nigeria’s trade and logistics system. (Daily Trust)