NPA, NPERA Deepen Ties To Ensure Seamless Handover Of Inland Dry Ports Management
By Sunday Etuka
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) have agreed to deepen collaboration to ensure a smooth transition in the management and regulation of Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) across the country, as part of ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
This followed a high level meeting between the management of NPA and the executive leadership of NPERA at the NPA Corporate Headquarters in Lagos, convened at the instance of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola.
The meeting focused on building a workable framework for cooperation between the two agencies following recent regulatory changes in the sector.
The engagement comes weeks after the Minister, on September 3, 2026, directed the transfer of Inland Dry Ports regulatory functions from NPERA, citing the need for a clearer separation of responsibilities across port regulation, development and operations.
The directive followed the enactment of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, which rebranded and expanded the former Nigerian Shippers’ Council into NPERA.
Receiving the NPERA delegation, NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, congratulated the agency’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Pius Akutah, on the new legislation, and reaffirmed NPA’s commitment to supporting NPERA in its expanded institutional role.
He described the transition as an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s logistics system and improve cargo movement from seaports into the hinterland, stressing that closer coordination among agencies under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy was essential to reducing operational friction and improving efficiency.
Speaking earlier, Akutah highlighted NPA’s central role in the development and sustainability of Inland Dry Ports, describing them as important catalysts for regional trade and the extension of maritime logistics inland.
He said the visit was intended to build a shared understanding among stakeholders to guarantee an uninterrupted transition in the management of the nation’s Inland Dry Ports.
To prevent jurisdictional disputes and avoid duplication of roles, Akutah proposed setting up a Joint Inter Agency Committee in the form of a Technical Working Group, comprising representatives of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, NPA, NPERA, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
He said the committee would identify and resolve operational conflicts, streamline administrative processes and eliminate duplication across Inland Dry Port operations nationwide.
Both chief executives reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Minister’s directives and aligning their institutional frameworks to promote trade facilitation, sustainable economic growth and greater efficiency across Nigeria’s port and logistics system.
