The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) says companies that breach its port regulations and operational standards will now face fines of up to N20 million, as part of a wider push to enforce compliance and support Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy target.
NPERA Director-General, Dr Pius Akutah, disclosed this on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by journalists. He said the powers granted to the agency under the NPERA Act 2026 would help sanitise the nation’s ports, protect investments, and improve efficiency across the maritime sector.
According to Akutah, the new regulatory framework sets a minimum penalty of N500,000 for a first-time individual offender, with the amount increasing for repeat violations. Fines for erring companies could also be multiplied for continued breaches.
He noted that the tougher sanctions represent a departure from the era of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, which lacked the legal authority to enforce compliance effectively.
Akutah stressed that the objective of the new law is not to disrupt port operations but to build a regulatory system that encourages voluntary compliance through deterrence.
He explained that previous penalties were too weak to discourage infractions, but the new framework creates a credible deterrent that should push operators to follow the rules without heavy-handed enforcement.
The NPERA boss added that the law would apply evenly to all parties — service users and providers alike — with the agency acting as a neutral umpire rather than favouring any side.
He said the framework is also expected to boost the competitiveness of Nigerian ports, encouraging higher standards among operators and helping local ports compete more effectively with counterparts abroad.
On tariffs, Akutah said NPERA would oversee adjustments and enforcement to safeguard the economy and protect investments in the sector.
He clarified that enforcement should not be seen as an attempt to intimidate operators, but as a tool to discourage violations and promote compliance. The agency, he said, would generate revenue from fines, while some infractions could attract criminal prosecution.
Akutah maintained that the success of the framework would depend on firm, impartial application of its provisions, adding that the law “is not respectful of persons” and would be enforced consistently to achieve its intended purpose.
He also disclosed plans to strengthen NPERA’s dispute resolution mechanism, including the use of alternative dispute resolution methods, to cut down the time and cost of resolving maritime disputes and prevent delays from disrupting trade facilitation.
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