FIC Report (Lagos State) – The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has welcomed the establishment of the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), describing the new institution as a landmark reform with the potential to fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s port governance and improve the ease of doing business.
The association also congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the development, saying the creation of a dedicated economic regulator would strengthen Nigeria’s maritime regulatory framework while promoting greater transparency, fairness, accountability and efficiency in port operations.
National President of NAGAFF, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, who spoke on behalf of the association, said the establishment of NPERA represented a significant response to longstanding concerns surrounding the structure, administration and regulation of the nation’s ports.
He said the reform would introduce a clearer separation between port operations and economic regulation by allowing the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to focus primarily on its operational and infrastructure responsibilities, while NPERA assumes responsibility for economic regulatory oversight.
Ezisi described the development as a transformative step that could bring greater balance and accountability to the maritime sector.
“The creation of NPERA is a transformative milestone that will rebalance Nigeria’s port governance. By separating operational functions under the Nigeria Ports Authority from regulatory oversight under NPERA, the government has ensured transparency, fairness and efficiency in port operations,”he said.
According to him, freight forwarders and importers are among the key stakeholders expected to benefit from the new regulatory architecture, particularly through greater transparency in tariff administration, improved competition and more effective mechanisms for resolving disputes.
He noted that a more predictable regulatory environment would also provide significant benefits to traders and other port users by reducing uncertainties associated with port charges and operational procedures.
NAGAFF further said shipping lines could benefit from a more predictable tariff regime and reduced monopolistic tendencies, while terminal operators would have clearer concession guidelines and stronger regulatory oversight.
The association added that the reform would equally enable the NPA to concentrate more effectively on its core responsibilities of developing port infrastructure and improving service delivery, without the complications associated with combining operational and economic regulatory functions.
Ezisi said the separation of these responsibilities was important to the creation of a more efficient and accountable port system, particularly at a time when Nigeria was seeking to strengthen its position as a major maritime and trading hub in Africa.
He expressed optimism that NPERA would help align Nigeria’s port governance framework more closely with international best practices and contribute to lower logistics costs, faster cargo clearance and a more competitive business environment.
However, he stressed that the success of the reform would depend largely on the institutional capacity and independence of the new agency, urging the Federal Government to provide NPERA with the necessary resources, personnel and operational support to effectively discharge its mandate.
“NAGAFF stands ready to collaborate with NPERA, NPA and all stakeholders to ensure that this reform delivers on its promise of a more competitive, transparent and globally aligned maritime sector,” Ezisi said.
He called on operators, regulators, freight forwarders, shipping companies, terminal operators and other stakeholders across the maritime industry to embrace the reform and work collectively towards ensuring that the new regulatory framework delivers tangible benefits to the Nigerian economy.
According to him, effective implementation of the reform would not only improve port efficiency but also strengthen Nigeria’s trade and investment environment, reduce avoidable costs and enhance the country’s competitiveness in international commerce.
The association therefore urged all stakeholders to support the transition and ensure that the establishment of NPERA translates into practical improvements in port operations, rather than remaining merely an institutional change.
Dimaka Chioma
Deputy Director
Information/Public Relations
