The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) has announced plans to reduce the cost of doing business at the nation’s ports through the harmonisation of charges and stricter regulation of service providers.
The agency disclosed this at a sensitisation programme held at the Abuja International Trade Fair, where it highlighted the burden of multiple port charges on importers, exporters and the competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The Head of NPERA’s Abuja Liaison Office, Dr Pauline Osasona, said overlapping charges imposed by government agencies and port service providers had contributed significantly to the high cost of importing and exporting goods in the country.
According to her, businesses frequently pay multiple fees for similar services, increasing operating expenses and making Nigerian ports less attractive to traders.
Osasona warned that the high cost of port operations had prompted some importers and exporters to consider using ports in neighbouring African countries, where port-related charges are comparatively lower.
She explained that the disparity in costs puts Nigerian ports at a disadvantage in regional trade and could lead to the loss of business and revenue to competing maritime destinations.
To address the challenge, she said NPERA would review and harmonise port charges, eliminate unnecessary fees and ensure that service providers comply with approved regulatory standards.
The agency is also seeking to improve transparency, affordability and operational efficiency across the port system as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s position in regional and international trade.
Osasona noted that excessive port charges have implications beyond the maritime industry, as higher import and export costs can increase operating expenses for businesses and place additional pressure on consumers.
She stressed that charges imposed by port service providers must be properly regulated and subjected to the agency’s oversight and approval.
The establishment of NPERA followed President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Act, which transformed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council into the new economic regulatory agency.
The transition represents a significant change in the regulation of Nigeria’s port industry, with NPERA expected to strengthen oversight, promote fair competition and address longstanding concerns over the cost of port operations.
