The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) has announced tougher sanctions for violations within the nation’s port sector, with corporate offenders now liable to penalties of up to N20 million under a strengthened regulatory framework aimed at improving compliance and efficiency.
The Director-General of NPERA, Dr Pius Akutah, disclosed this in Lagos while receiving a delegation of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN), led by its President, Moses Ebosele, during a courtesy visit to the agency’s office in Apapa.
Akutah said the new legal framework marks a significant shift from previous regulations that prescribed penalties too small to deter wrongdoing. According to him, the agency now possesses stronger enforcement powers capable of addressing recurring infractions and promoting greater accountability among operators.
He explained that under the revised framework, an individual first-time offender could face a minimum penalty of N500,000, while sanctions for corporate entities could rise to N20 million. The regulator also retains the authority to impose additional penalties where violations continue despite previous sanctions.
“In the past, there was no such potency in our law, so we couldn’t enforce anything because the penalties were too insignificant to deter any infraction. The new framework provides for a minimum penalty of N500,000 for an individual first offender, while penalties can increase where infractions are repeated. The highest penalty for a corporation is N20 million,” Akutah said.
The NPERA chief stressed that stronger regulation is necessary to improve standards and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian ports. He noted that the maritime sector remains a critical component of the country’s economic development strategy and must operate within a framework that encourages compliance and efficiency.
According to him, efficient and competitive seaports will play a crucial role in supporting Nigeria’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2030. He added that the agency is pursuing reforms designed to create a more transparent and investor-friendly port environment.
Akutah highlighted automation and digitisation as key pillars of the agency’s transformation agenda, noting that technology-driven regulation would improve monitoring, reduce inefficiencies and strengthen service delivery across the sector.
He also assured stakeholders that while the agency intends to enforce compliance more vigorously, regulatory actions would be implemented in a manner that does not unnecessarily disrupt port operations or commercial activities.
Industry stakeholders have repeatedly identified weak enforcement and operational inefficiencies as major challenges affecting Nigeria’s ports. Analysts believe the introduction of stricter penalties could help improve discipline, boost investor confidence and strengthen the overall performance of the maritime industry.
As NPERA moves to enforce its new regulatory powers, attention will be on how effectively the measures translate into improved compliance and a more competitive port system capable of supporting national economic growth.
