By Mercy Aikoye
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) have begun moves to prevent jurisdictional conflicts and duplication of responsibilities in the management of Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) across the country.
The two agencies agreed on the need for stronger inter-agency coordination following a high-level meeting between their management teams at the NPA Corporate Headquarters in Lagos.
The meeting, convened at the instance of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, was aimed at developing a framework for a smooth transition in the management and regulation of Inland Dry Ports following recent reforms in the maritime sector.
The development followed the Minister’s September 3, 2026 directive for the transfer of Inland Dry Ports regulatory functions from NPERA to the NPA, as part of efforts by the Federal Government to establish clearer lines of responsibility for port regulation, development and operations.
The directive came after the enactment of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which rebranded and expanded the mandate of the former Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
Speaking during the meeting, NPERA Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Pius Akutah, proposed the establishment of a Joint Inter-Agency Committee in the form of a Technical Working Group to address possible areas of overlapping responsibilities.
The proposed committee is expected to bring together officials of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, NPA, NPERA, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Akutah said the committee would help identify and resolve operational conflicts, streamline administrative processes and prevent duplication of responsibilities in the operation of Inland Dry Ports nationwide.
He stressed that effective collaboration among the relevant agencies was necessary to ensure an uninterrupted transition and maximise the contribution of Inland Dry Ports to Nigeria’s trade and logistics network.
According to him, the NPA has a strategic role to play in the development and long-term sustainability of Inland Dry Ports, which serve as important centres for cargo transit and distribution to the hinterland.
Receiving the NPERA delegation, the NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, congratulated Akutah on the enactment of the new legislation and reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to supporting NPERA in its new institutional role.
Dantsoho said closer coordination among agencies under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy would help strengthen Nigeria’s logistics system and improve the movement of cargo from seaports to the hinterland.
He said the transition provided an opportunity to optimise the country’s logistics ecosystem, reduce operational friction and unlock greater economic benefits from trade across the country.
The two agencies subsequently reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Minister’s policy directives and aligning their institutional frameworks towards improved trade facilitation, sustainable economic growth and greater efficiency in Nigeria’s port and logistics system.
