FG directs NPA to take over inland dry port functions from NSC
FG directs NPA to take over inland dry port (IDP) functions from the Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC), Minister Adegboyega Oyetola announced via his X page on Thursday. The move follows 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.
The directive aims to create a clearer separation between port economic regulation, development and operations. By transferring IDP promotion to the NPA, the government says NPERA can focus solely on regulatory duties such as setting tariffs, handling charges, competition rules, licensing, service standards, commercial dispute resolution and protecting port users.
The NPA, already managing seaport infrastructure, is positioned to integrate inland dry ports into the wider port network, potentially improving logistics efficiency for importers, exporters and transporters.
A Ministerial Committee has been ordered to oversee the NSC's transition to NPERA, effective immediately.
Stakeholders in the shipping and logistics sectors should monitor how the new regulator sets tariffs and service standards, and consider how changes in inland port development might affect clearance times or costs.
How will this shift affect your logistics costs or clearance times, and what steps might you take to adapt?