FG orders NPA to take over inland dry port functions from shippers’ council

The Federal Government has directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to take over the Inland Dry Port (IDP) functions currently handled by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made the announcement via a statement on his X page on Thursday.

The directive is part of the Federal Government’s broader restructuring of the port sector following the enactment of the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Act, 2026, which will see the NSC transition into NPERA as the country’s substantive port economic regulator.

What Adegboyega Oyetola is saying

Oyetola said the transfer is aimed at creating a clearer separation between port economic regulation, development and operations.

He said the move would allow NPERA to focus on its regulatory responsibilities while placing the promotion of inland dry ports under the NPA, which is better positioned to integrate the facilities into the country’s wider port infrastructure and operational network.

• “I have directed the transfer of the Inland Dry Port (IDP) functions of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), as part of our efforts to establish a clear separation between port economic regulation, development and operations,” the statement read in part.

Oyetola also directed the immediate constitution of a Ministerial Committee to oversee the transition of the NSC into NPERA following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the NPERA Act, 2026.

He said the new regulator will be responsible for areas including tariffs and charges, competition, licensing, service standards, commercial dispute resolution and protection of port users.

NSC to transition into NPERA

The NPERA Act establishes a substantive statutory economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector, bringing an end to efforts spanning about two decades to create a dedicated port economic regulator.

Under the new framework, the NSC, which has served as the country’s interim port economic regulator since 2014, will transition into NPERA and concentrate on economic regulation rather than operational or developmental functions.

• Oyetola said the transition is intended to ensure that agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy operate within clearly defined mandates and that overlapping responsibilities are eliminated.
• He said the credibility of an economic regulator depends partly on its ability to act as an impartial referee without responsibilities that could create actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
• “A regulator cannot function as an operator and, at the same time, be expected to be perceived as an unbiased referee,” Oyetola said.

NPERA will focus on regulating tariffs and charges, promoting competition, licensing, setting service standards, resolving commercial disputes and protecting port users.

The government expects the separation of responsibilities to strengthen transparency and provide a more predictable operating environment for port users, investors, terminal operators and shipping companies.

What the transfer means for inland dry ports

With the transfer, the NPA will assume responsibility for the IDP functions previously domiciled with the NSC.

The government said the move is intended to strengthen inland dry ports by placing their promotion within an institution that can better integrate them into Nigeria’s wider port infrastructure and operational network.

• Inland dry ports are important to the movement of cargo beyond Nigeria’s coastal seaports, particularly by bringing port-related services closer to businesses and cargo owners in the hinterland.
• The Federal Government said the transfer should not be viewed as a reduction in its commitment to inland dry ports but as an effort to place their development and promotion under an agency with a stronger infrastructure and operational mandate.
• The reform is expected to give the NPA a broader role in integrating the facilities with the country’s seaport and logistics network.

Oyetola said the government’s objective is to ensure a seamless transition while creating a port system that serves the entire country.

What you should know

The latest restructuring comes as Nigeria continues to invest in expanding and modernising its port infrastructure to improve capacity, efficiency and competitiveness.

• Nigeria’s port development pipeline is expanding through private and public sector financing arrangements aimed at boosting capacity and efficiency.
• MSC Group signed a 45-year concession with Nigerdock in March to develop a container terminal at Snake Island Port in Lagos.
• The project includes a 910-metre quay, deep-sea vessel capacity and a 30-hectare container yard with expansion options.
• A £746 million, about $1 billion, UK-backed financing package will support upgrades at Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port.

Planned improvements include automation, reduced cargo dwell time, expanded quays and modern cargo-handling infrastructure.

These developments are expected to reduce vessel turnaround time, improve clearance efficiency and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global shipping networks.