Stakeholders in the nation’s Maritime sector have called on President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Nigeria Port Economy Regulatory Agency (NIPERA) bill.
The bill, which was passed by the National Assembly several months ago, still awaits Presidential assent, thereby prompting fear among critical stakeholders.
For many maritime stakeholders, the silence from the presidency signals more than a procedural delay; it raises questions about the political will to disrupt entrenched interests and reform a sector long burdened by inefficiency and regulatory overlaps.
As bureaucratic bottlenecks persist, so too does scepticism about whether the bill will ever see the light of day.
Nonetheless, the potency of the bill to help in unifying and sanitising the nation’s fractured port system is not in doubt.
That explains why the call for immediate assent to the NIPERA Bill has reached a crescendo among stakeholders.
The bill, when assented to by the President, seeks to reposition the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) as the lead regulator of the port economy, thereby establishing a more structured framework for regulating service providers, shipping lines, and terminal operators.
However, it was learnt that the NIPERA Bill also aims to resolve long-standing inter-agency rivalries that have historically slowed down efficiency and progress at the nation’s seaports.
The NIPERA Bill has been described as one of the most significant legislative efforts in the maritime industry in the past decade.
The Bill was first introduced during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Since then, it has suffered multiple setbacks as a result of legislative and administrative delays.
However, recent developments have rekindled hope as the bill is now resting on the President’s table.
Maritime experts and stakeholders believe this is a defining moment to put an end to the politics and other factors that have engulfed the bill for a long.
The proposed regulatory agency would act as the central economic umpire for Nigeria’s port system, setting tariffs, mediating disputes, ensuring fair trade practices and eliminating arbitrary charges. It would also plug revenue leakages and give the federal government better oversight over port concessionaires and service providers.
The bill’s passage is particularly timely given the renewed focus on maritime development under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which was created by President Tinubu to harness the full potential of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Speaking on the bill, Dr Kayode Farinto, former acting president of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), reflected the mix of scepticism and optimism within the industry.
He said: “This is politics and I don’t know, I’m not sure that it’s possible, but nothing is impossible where there are interests. Let’s give the presidency a few weeks, I’m sure of that. It’s not too late. Let’s hope it’s signed before May 29.”
He pointed out the strategic importance of the bill, especially to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
He explained that the bill would empower the Council not just as a facilitator, but as a regulator with financial autonomy and legislative authority.
“We also contributed to the bill. One of my proposals was that the NSC should charge 0.05 per cent of the funds allocated to shipping agents and shipwreck staff, which would improve their internally generated revenue. It’s a win-win situation for the federal government,” he added.
“If the bill is not signed by May 29, then we can begin to question the delay. This is the time to act,” he stated.
Meanwhile, a maritime expert and Head of Research, Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC), Eugene Nweke, described the bill’s passage at the National Assembly as a healthy development and called on stakeholders not to relent until it is signed into law.
“This bill is crucial for regulating the maritime industry. Stakeholders should not go to sleep until Mr. President graciously assents to the bill,” Nweke said.
He commended the Tinubu administration for opening up space for professional input in policymaking and regulatory reforms, saying that tribal sentiments appear to have taken a back seat in recent appointments and decisions.
“No matter how you look at Tinubu’s administration, to a large extent it gives room for professional input in certain policy arrangements,” he said.
Nweke further argued that the bill addresses a fundamental challenge in the maritime industry — the turf wars among various regulatory agencies, which have stifled development and led to policy inconsistencies over the years.
“One of the greatest problems in the industry has been the supremacy tussle among agencies. This bill introduces clarity. It aligns all legislative empowerment, especially concerning revenue functions, and removes that function from multiple hands,” he explained.
He also lauded the leadership style of the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Pius Akutah, for his quiet, yet focused drive to get the bill over the finish line.
“If you are following what is happening in the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Akutah has never disappointed. He may not be loud, but he is results-driven. He understands the importance of having a regulatory ombudsman in the industry and is not witch-hunting anyone, but working to bring sanity,” he said.
At the 2025 Sectoral Retreat of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah, underscored the urgency of signing the bill into law. He emphasised not only the need for a swift passage of the bill but also called for consistent statutory funding to enable the Council to fulfil its expected regulatory duties.
Akutah, who has continued to garner praise for his quiet but goal-oriented leadership, noted that the legislation would provide a solid framework for the Council to function effectively as an economic ombudsman in the maritime sector.
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