NAGAFF Welcomes NPERA, Calls for Transparency, Efficiency in Port Governance

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has welcomed the establishment of the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulator Agency (NPERA), describing the reform as a significant step towards strengthening port governance and improving the efficiency of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The association congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the development, commending the resilience and efforts of the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council in advancing the reform.
Speaking on behalf of NAGAFF, its National President, High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, said the establishment of NPERA would help create a clearer separation between port operations and economic regulation.
According to him, placing regulatory oversight under NPERA while allowing the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to concentrate on its core operational and infrastructure responsibilities would promote greater transparency, accountability and efficiency across the nation’s ports.
“The creation of NPERA is a transformative milestone that will rebalance Nigeria’s port governance. By separating operational functions under the Nigeria Ports Authority from regulatory oversight under NPERA, the government has ensured transparency, fairness and efficiency in port operations.”
Ezisi said freight forwarders and traders were among those expected to benefit significantly from the reform through more transparent tariff structures, improved competition and fairer mechanisms for resolving disputes.
He added that shipping lines could benefit from greater predictability in tariff regimes and stronger safeguards against monopolistic practices, while terminal operators would have clearer concession guidelines alongside increased regulatory oversight.
For the NPA, NAGAFF said the reform would allow the authority to focus more effectively on infrastructure development and service delivery without the burden of dual operational and regulatory responsibilities.
The association also noted that the new regulatory framework could strengthen Nigeria’s maritime governance in line with international standards, while potentially reducing logistics costs and improving cargo clearance efficiency for traders and consumers.
NAGAFF urged the Federal Government to provide NPERA with the necessary institutional and operational support to enable it to effectively discharge its mandate.
The association also called on port stakeholders to embrace the reform and work collaboratively towards building a more competitive, transparent and efficient maritime sector.
“NAGAFF stands ready to collaborate with NPERA, NPA and all stakeholders to ensure that this reform delivers on its promise of a more competitive, transparent and globally aligned maritime sector,” Ezisi said.
He maintained that the success of the reform would ultimately depend on effective implementation, stakeholder cooperation and a sustained commitment to transparency and accountability.