To mitigate and address issues affecting the competitiveness of Nigerian Ports, boost efficiencies and grow revenue in Nigerian ports, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has presented a bold and comprehensive strategy towards establishing a Standard Regulatory Framework in the industry in order to harmonise port operations, reduce logistics costs and align the ports with global best practices.

ES/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima with Princess Vicky Haastrup during a  working visit to the ENL Terminal Operator.

Executive Secretary/CEO of the Council, Dr. Pius Akutah while delivery a paper titled, “Ensuring Standard Regulatory Framework”, at the 2025 Association of Maritime Journalist Association of Nigeria (AMJON) with the theme: “Maritime Development: Training, Ports Efficiency and Shipping Imperatives, noted that Nigeria’s port ecosystem, currently plagued by port congestion, overlapping agency mandates, and excessive documentation processes, ranks 130th out of 139 countries in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI, 2023).

Doubly Represented by Mr. Moses Abere, Acting Director, Special Duties and  the Deputy Director, Regulatory Services, Ibrahim Mohammed, Akutah said Nigeria’s continued poor ranking in efficiency, infrastructure, and timeliness underline the urgency for reform.

The Executive Secretary/CEO of the COuncil stressed the importance of working port system by referencing the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 that, “A standard regulatory framework is not just a technical necessity—it is an economic imperative. Where regulation is smart and efficient, trade flows. Where it is not, trade chokes”.

Moses Abere, presents a plaque to image maker of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Domo Umoekpe at the AMJON 2025 Conference.

According to the Council, over eight federal agencies, including the NSC, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), perform overlapping regulatory functions at ports. This fragmentation has created significant compliance challenges, with 49% of port delays reportedly caused by multiple inspections and lack of agency coordination.

“The NSC and a few other agencies have begun digitalising operations, the majority still depend on manual processes, increasing corruption risks and causing delays” the Council disclosed.

To reform the sector, the NSC outlined a framework based on predictability, transparency, efficiency, inclusiveness, and technology-driven systems. Key features include: Codified regulations, regularly updated and published; transparent tariffs and sanctions; single-window digital platforms to reduce redundancy; active stakeholder participation, from importers to terminal operators, and the adoption of blockchain and APIs to centralize compliance monitoring.

These principles it says, aligns with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which advocates for transparent and predictable port regulation to minimise trade costs.

On strategic options for transformation, the NSC explained further: Institutional Reforms: The NSC proposes harmonising roles among major port agencies, such as Customs, NPA, and itself.

Digital Integration: A proposed Port Community System (PCS) that would digitally link all port stakeholders, including NSC, NPA, and terminal operators. It noted that a similar initiative in Ghana, known as GCNet and ICUMS, led to a 34% revenue increase and slashed port clearance time by 60% in just 12 months.

Capacity Building

NSC aims to train compliance officers and auditors with support from organizations such as UNCTAD, the World Bank, and the IMO.

Stakeholder Engagement: A Quarterly Regulatory Roundtable will be instituted to gather feedback from shippers and port users. A 2023 Maritime Stakeholder Survey revealed that 64% of users feel excluded from current policy processes.

Performance Monitoring: Monthly regulatory scorecards will be introduced to measure KPIs such as dwell time, port turnaround, inspection frequency, and TEU costs.

Dispute Resolution

The NSC recommends establishing a Maritime Economic Tribunal for timely and specialized resolution of port-related disputes, targeting a 21-day resolution window, similar to Singapore’s 14-day benchmark.

Legislative Reforms

Central to these changes is the passage of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Authority (NPERA) Bill, which seeks to legally strengthen NSC’s enforcement powers and eliminate jurisdictional overlaps.

According to the House Committee on Ports and Harbours (2023), the bill is expected to: Reduce regulatory duplication by 40%; boost investor confidence by 31% and lower average port service costs by 15–20% within three years

The council cited other countries like Singapore, Ghana, Morocco, and Kenya who have successfully reformed their maritime sectors through regulatory clarity and digitalization, adding that these examples demonstrate that digital harmonization, legislative clarity, and performance tracking are effective reform levers that Nigeria can adopt.

The NSC’s roadmap reflects a clear vision for a modern, transparent, and efficient maritime regulatory environment. Through institutional realignment, technological investment, and inclusive governance, Nigeria can unlock its port sector’s full economic potential.

“With the right strategies, harmonized policies, digitization, stakeholder inclusiveness, and performance-driven regulation, the NSC can lead the transformation of Nigeria’s maritime regulatory architecture,” the Council affirmed.

As Nigeria prepares for broader continental trade under the AfCFTA, the urgency to fix its port system has never been more pressing. The reform journey may be complex, but the NSC’s plan lays the foundation for a more predictable and prosperous future.