NPERA Targets Transparent Port Charges, Integrated Cargo Evacuation to Cut Logistics Costs

 NPERA Targets Transparent Port Charges, Integrated Cargo Evacuation to Cut Logistics Costs

The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transparent port charges, fair competition and efficient cargo evacuation as part of efforts to reduce logistics costs and strengthen Nigeria’s maritime competitiveness.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NPERA, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq., MON, Ph.D., said effective port economic regulation was critical to improving service delivery, protecting port users and creating a predictable operating environment for investors and maritime businesses.

Akutah who was represented by the Deputy Director, Inland Transport Services Department, Mr. Obinna Ofurum stated this in his goodwill message at the Nigerian Transport Summit 2026, organised by JustAlive Communications Limited at Providence Hotel, G.R.A., Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday.

The summit was held under the theme, “Navigating Global Disruptions and the Road Ahead: Mobility, Energy and Trade Facilitation for a Resilient Future.”

According to him, the efficiency of Nigeria’s transport sector directly affects the cost of doing business, industrial competitiveness, the movement of goods and services, investment inflows and the overall performance of the national economy.

He stressed that building an efficient, integrated, competitive and sustainable transport system required a shared commitment from government institutions, regulatory agencies and private-sector operators.

On NPERA’s regulatory mandate, Akutah explained that the agency was committed to promoting transparency, fairness, accountability and predictability in the provision of port and related shipping services.

He noted that effective economic regulation would ensure that charges remained reasonable, service delivery improved, stakeholders received fair treatment and the legitimate interests of port users were adequately protected within the applicable regulatory framework.

“Our responsibility goes beyond regulatory oversight. It also involves promoting an environment in which port service providers can operate efficiently, investors can make informed decisions, and importers, exporters, shipping companies, freight forwarders and other port users can conduct their businesses with greater confidence,” he said.

The NPERA chief executive added that stakeholder engagement, evidence-based decision-making and appropriate regulatory interventions would remain essential to reducing avoidable costs, improving operational efficiency and encouraging fair competition across the port system.

Addressing trade facilitation, Akutah identified cargo-clearance delays, excessive or unpredictable charges, inadequate infrastructure and poor coordination among industry stakeholders as factors capable of increasing logistics costs and undermining the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses.

He called for sustained collaboration among relevant government agencies, port authorities, terminal operators, shipping companies, transport providers and other stakeholders to address these challenges.

He also highlighted the need for improved information sharing, transparent operating procedures, effective complaint-resolution mechanisms and the responsible application of technology in port and transport operations.

According to him, an efficient and well-regulated port environment would help reduce the cost of trade, improve service standards and create a more attractive investment climate for Nigeria’s maritime industry.

On multimodal transport integration, Akutah maintained that the development of an efficient cargo-handling and distribution system could not depend solely on seaports and road transport.

He advocated stronger integration of road, rail, inland waterways and other transport modes to facilitate the seamless movement of cargo from the ports to inland markets, industrial centres and production hubs.

He explained that supporting transport infrastructure could help decongest seaports, improve cargo evacuation, expand access to shipping services and bring port-related services closer to importers and exporters in the hinterland.

However, he cautioned that the benefits of such infrastructure would remain limited without effective transport connections, coordinated regulatory arrangements and commercially viable partnerships.

He identified bottlenecks affecting rail freight services, road transport costs, cargo documentation, shipping arrangements and the utilisation of inland transport infrastructure as issues requiring coordinated intervention.

Akutah said NPERA recognised the importance of working with relevant institutions to advance multimodal transport integration and extend the benefits of port economic regulation across the wider transport and logistics value chain.

The NPERA director-general further emphasised that the challenges confronting the transport sector were interconnected and could not be resolved by a single institution acting independently.

He therefore urged government ministries and agencies, regulatory bodies, infrastructure providers, transport operators, investors and the business community to strengthen collaboration in developing practical solutions to the sector’s challenges.

He described platforms such as the Nigerian Transport Summit as important avenues for exchanging ideas, promoting constructive engagement and establishing partnerships capable of translating policy objectives into measurable outcomes.

Akutah urged participants to ensure that deliberations at the summit produced actionable recommendations on port operations, cargo evacuation, transport infrastructure, energy supply, logistics costs and trade facilitation.

He also called for greater adoption of innovation, digitalisation, environmental sustainability and international best practices, stressing that policies and regulatory interventions must reflect Nigeria’s economic and operational realities.

He maintained that the future of Nigeria’s maritime and transport industry would depend on a collective commitment to efficiency, fairness, innovation and collaboration.

According to him, an effective port economic regulatory system, backed by reliable infrastructure and integrated transport services, would provide the foundation for sustainable economic growth and improved national competitiveness.

Akutah congratulated JustAlive Communications Limited on the organisation of the summit and expressed the hope that its deliberations would generate practical policy recommendations, stronger institutional partnerships and lasting solutions for Nigeria’s transport and logistics sector.

He reaffirmed NPERA’s readiness to engage constructively with relevant stakeholders in advancing a transparent, efficient, competitive and sustainable port and maritime environment in the national interest.