Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) has called for fair and reasonable port charges, improved service delivery and stronger coordination among maritime stakeholders as part of efforts to reduce the cost of doing business, facilitate trade and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global market.
The agency said an efficient and transparent port system, supported by predictable charges and effective economic regulation, was essential to improving operational performance, attracting investment and strengthening the country’s position in international trade.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NPERA, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq., MON, Ph.D., made the call in his goodwill message at the Nigerian Transport Summit 2026, organised by JustAlive Communications Limited, publishers of JustNet News, at Providence Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday.
The summit, which brought together stakeholders across the transportation, energy and trade sectors, was themed, “Navigating Global Disruptions and the Road Ahead: Mobility, Energy and Trade Facilitation for a Resilient Future.”
Speaking on the theme, Akutah emphasised the importance of effective economic regulation in promoting transparency, fairness, accountability and predictability in the provision of port and related shipping services.
He noted that the competitiveness of a country’s ports depended not only on the availability of infrastructure but also on the efficiency of operations, the reasonableness of charges and the ability of service providers to deliver quality services within a predictable regulatory framework.
According to him, a port system characterised by excessive or unpredictable charges, operational delays and poor coordination among service providers could increase the cost of moving goods, undermine trade efficiency and place additional financial pressure on businesses.
He stressed that ensuring fairness in port charges and improving service delivery were important steps towards creating a business environment that supports importers, exporters, freight forwarders, shipping companies, terminal operators and other users of port facilities.
The NPERA chief executive also highlighted the need for closer collaboration among government agencies, port operators, shipping companies and other stakeholders to address challenges affecting the maritime and transport sectors.
He maintained that effective coordination among the various players in the port value chain would help minimise operational bottlenecks, improve the movement of cargo and promote a more efficient system for handling imports and exports.
Industry-wide collaboration, he noted, remained essential to ensuring that regulatory policies translated into practical improvements in port operations and produced measurable benefits for businesses and the wider economy.
Akutah further stressed the importance of regulatory predictability, noting that a transparent and consistent framework would enable operators and investors to make informed business decisions while giving port users greater confidence in the cost and quality of services.
He said effective regulation should promote a balance between the legitimate commercial interests of service providers and the need to protect port users from unfair practices, unreasonable charges and inefficiencies that could undermine the smooth flow of trade.
The agency’s position reflects the broader need to strengthen the economic regulation of port services as Nigeria seeks to improve its trade performance, reduce logistics costs and make its maritime infrastructure more attractive to businesses operating within and outside the country.
Nigeria’s ports remain critical gateways for international commerce, with their operational efficiency having significant implications for the cost of goods, the competitiveness of local businesses and the ease with which Nigerian products can access foreign markets.
Consequently, improving the efficiency of port services and ensuring greater transparency in the determination of charges are important to efforts aimed at reducing the overall cost of trade and strengthening the country’s logistics and supply-chain systems.
The call also comes amid growing attention to the need for resilient transport networks capable of responding to global disruptions, changing trade patterns, energy challenges and other factors affecting the movement of goods and people.
Participants at the summit examined issues relating to mobility, energy and trade facilitation, with discussions centred on the need for practical strategies to strengthen the transport sector and improve its capacity to support economic development.
The event provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas on emerging challenges and opportunities in the transport industry, as well as explore measures for building a more coordinated, efficient and resilient system.
NPERA’s emphasis on fair charges, regulatory transparency and improved service delivery underscores the importance of economic regulation in ensuring that port operations support trade growth, investment and the broader development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.