The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) is set to fully implement the NPERA Act 2026 with provisions for fines and criminal prosecution to sanitize the nation’s port sector and boost trade efficiency.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Dr. Akutah Pius disclosed this in Lagos when the Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), Mrs. Cecilia Muller Torbrand led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Agency’s Headquarters.
Dr. Akutah said the new law represents a major shift from the former Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act, which he described as persuasive and lacking enforcement powers. He noted that the new Act creates a strong culture of deterrence against corruption and unethical practices bordering on freight, tariffs, charges, and service delivery at the ports.
On enforcement, the NPERA boss revealed that the Agency will establish a dedicated Enforcement Department with trained security operatives posted directly to the Agency and under its control to ensure effective compliance and to guard against compromise.
He assured that NPERA will strengthen its Memorandum of Understanding with MACN, develop a functional Help Desk with clear escalation channels for reporting infractions, and benchmark its operations with global best practices.
Responding, the Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network, Ms. Cecilia Muller Torbrand said the Network’s mission is to make maritime trade more efficient and align perfectly with Nigeria’s Blue Economy vision.
Ms. Torbrand, who leads a global network of over 200 maritime companies committed to zero tolerance for corruption, said MACN has been in Nigeria since 2012 and has witnessed positive developments, particularly a government that listens and is willing to partner with the private sector.
“You should see us as a partner, but also as a mediator between the public and private sector. We bring intelligence, experience, and global membership that can inspire discussions on how ports can run more efficiently,” she said.
Also speaking, MACN’s representative in Nigeria and Chief Executive Officer of the Convention on Business Integrity, Mr. Soji Apampa said MACN’s Collective Action approach has significantly helped to reduce corrupt demands at Nigerian ports through its anonymous incident reporting mechanism and collaboration with government.
Mr. Apampa explained that since MACN began operations in Nigeria in 2012, it has worked closely with the former Nigerian Shippers’ Council, port agencies and private sector operators to promote integrity, transparency and efficiency through joint risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures.
He noted that the introduction of the Port Standing Task Team and the Help Desk were products of MACN’s advocacy, which helped to dismantle bottlenecks and reduce delays associated with corrupt practices.
“We have seen progress, but we need to sustain the momentum. The establishment of NPERA with clear enforcement powers is a game-changer. MACN is ready to support NPERA with data, global experience, and training to ensure that the Help Desk becomes more functional, reports are escalated transparently, and outcomes are measurable,” Apampa said.
He added that MACN will continue to sensitize the shipping industry on regulatory changes, new protocols, and compliance requirements to deepen public-private collaboration and improve Nigeria’s ranking on the ease of doing business.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Akutah welcomed the commitment from MACN, noting that the Agency has opened a new chapter with the Network and will build the partnership fast and strongly for the benefit of the nation’s maritime industry and the Blue Economy.
He added that the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola has addressed the inter-agency rivalry, and this has fostered development in the sector.
