By Oluyinka Onigbinde & Joshua Yousouph
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has welcomed the establishment of the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), describing the reform as a significant step towards strengthening governance and efficiency in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
NAGAFF, in a statement issued by its National President, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the establishment of the new economic regulator.
The association also commended the resilience of the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council in championing the reform, which it said would help reshape the country’s port governance structure.
Ezisi said the creation of NPERA would provide a clearer separation between port operations and economic regulation, with the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) focusing primarily on infrastructure and service delivery while NPERA oversees the economic regulatory functions.
“The creation of NPERA is a transformative milestone that will rebalance Nigeria’s port governance. By separating operational functions under the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) from regulatory oversight under NPERA, the government has ensured transparency, fairness, and efficiency in port operations,” he said.
According to him, freight forwarders and traders are among those expected to benefit significantly from the reform through more transparent tariff structures, improved competitiveness and fairer mechanisms for resolving disputes.
He added that shipping lines would benefit from greater predictability in tariff regimes and reduced monopolistic practices, while terminal operators would have clearer concession guidelines alongside stricter regulatory monitoring.
NAGAFF further noted that the reform would enable the NPA to concentrate on infrastructure development and service delivery, while providing government and policymakers with a stronger governance framework aligned with global maritime standards.
The association also expressed optimism that consumers and traders would ultimately benefit from lower logistics costs and more efficient cargo clearance processes.
Ezisi urged the Federal Government to provide NPERA with the necessary institutional support to effectively discharge its mandate, stressing that the success of the reform would depend on cooperation among all stakeholders.
“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,” he said.
He also called on port operators and other stakeholders to embrace the new regulatory framework in the collective interest of Nigeria’s trade, investment and economic growth.
