By Abbas Nazil
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah, has welcomed the transition of the Council into the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NIPERA), describing it a transformative era in the nation’s maritime sector.
According to Akutah, the anticipated regulatory agency will be a key driver of professionalism, investment protection, and systemic reforms that will help reposition Nigeria’s ports as globally competitive.
Speaking in Abuja over the weekend after receiving the Media Supporter Award at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) 70th anniversary celebration, Akutah described the honour as a humbling recognition from one of the country’s most credible professional bodies.
He expressed gratitude for the award, noting that the NUJ’s role in holding leaders accountable makes its endorsement especially meaningful.
“Being honoured by the NUJ means a lot to me,” he said. “This union has lasted over 70 years, training and nurturing media professionals who hold leaders accountable.
So, for them to recognise me today means expectations are high—and it’s a challenge I embrace.”
Akutah emphasized that the proposed NIPERA will have the legal authority and operational capacity to regulate the port economy more efficiently than ever before.
Once the bill establishing NIPERA receives presidential assent, the agency will replace the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s current mandate, which has been limited by an outdated legal framework.
The Council was designated as the Port Economic Regulator through an executive directive, lacking the statutory powers necessary for full-scale regulation.
The executive secretary revealed that the new bill—already passed by both chambers of the National Assembly—will, when signed into law, give the agency full legal backing to tackle challenges currently plaguing the maritime and port sectors.
These include regulatory inefficiencies, uncoordinated operations, and barriers to investment.
“In the next five years, we expect to see a fully grounded regulatory agency that will overhaul the port economy,” Akutah said.
“We are talking about job creation, automation of port systems, increased investor confidence, and a significant boost to national revenue.”
He stressed that NIPERA will not only ensure that the maritime environment operates transparently and efficiently but will also weed out unprofessional actors that have hindered sectoral progress.
Akutah reiterated the support received from the Federal Ministry of Transportation in pushing the NIPERA bill forward and expressed optimism that with the right legal tools, Nigeria’s maritime landscape will undergo a complete transformation.
He affirmed that the NSC, under its new identity as NIPERA, will champion reform, innovation, and international best practices to ensure Nigeria’s ports are investment-friendly, efficient, and globally competitive.