Excitement as Senate passes Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill

By Steve Agbota

Key stakeholders in the maritime sector are excited as the Senate, on Tuesday, passed the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, 2026 during a plenary session in Abuja.

The passage of the bill followed a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) and seconded by the Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro (Benue South).

The lawmakers had, before consideration, rescinded their earlier decision on the bill, as previously passed and transmitted to the president for assent.

At the Committee of the Whole, Opeyemi informed the Senate that following critical examination by the Ministry of Justice, fundamental issues were identified requiring fresh legislative action.

He stated that a technical committee comprising the Senate, House of Representatives and legal drafting experts from the Directorate of Legal Services had convened.

The committee, he said, was mandated to resolve the issues raised after the detailed scrutiny of the bill and recommend necessary corrections for legislative reconsideration.

Relying on Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, the lawmakers rescinded their earlier decision on the bill, as previously passed.

The committee, thereafter, recommitted the bill to the Committee of the Whole for comprehensive consideration, amendment and passage, in line with legislative procedures.

At the Committee of the Whole, the lawmakers subsequently considered and passed the bill clause by clause after exhaustive deliberation.

Speaking with Journalists recently, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Pius Akutah, said that the NPERA bill represents one of the most significant institutional developments for the Council and the Nigerian maritime sector.

“As you may recall, the Bill had earlier been passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to the President for assent. However, during the review process, certain provisions were found to conflict with aspects of the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA) 2025. Based on observations communicated by the President, the bill was returned to the National Assembly for corrections. I am pleased to inform you that the House of Representatives has addressed those areas of conflict and passed a revised version of the bill in line with the president’s comments.

“The amended bill is now awaiting concurrence from the Senate. Once the process is completed and the bill receives presidential assent, it will provide the statutory foundation for strengthening Nigeria’s port economic regulatory framework and reposition the Council for an expanded regulatory mandate,” he said.

Recall that the new bill is a reflection on the current administration’s efforts to create a more efficient port regulatory system, emphasizing the importance of the maritime industry to Nigeria’s development.

The Council maintained that President Tinubu’s commitment to enhancing the Blue Economy is underscored by the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, led by Oyetola Adegboyega.

With the NIPERA bill’s passage, the NSC is set to play a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s maritime industry, focusing on regulatory advancements, leadership development, and sustainable growth.

However, maritime stakeholders highlighted the need for an economic regulator to manage fiscal matters, expressing confidence in NIPERA’s potential to provide effective regulation.

The bill highlighted the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s crucial role in advancing the country’s economy while the new legislation will empower the council to enforce regulations more effectively, thus benefiting the entire sector.