The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency is hardwiring transparency, strict accountability, and hyper-responsible asset management into its operational DNA as it formally takes the steering wheel as the nation’s definitive port economic regulator.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NPERA, Dr. Pius Akutah, MON, disclosed this institutional pivot while hosting a high-powered delegation from the Civil Society Coalition for Transparency and Good Governance (CSCTGG), led by its Executive Director, Comr. Success Uko, at the agency’s Abuja Liaison Office.
Dr. Akutah clarified that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has fully transitioned into NPERA under a refreshed legal and regulatory framework—a legislative evolution that arms the agency with unyielding statutory power to enforce economic discipline across Nigerian ports.
Assuring the civil society watchdogs, Akutah maintained that NPERA is fiercely committed to the bulletproof management of public funds while executing its mandate to inject global-standard investor confidence and transactional efficiency into the maritime ecosystem.
The NPERA chief further stated that management will meticulously evaluate the coalition’s request for a strategic alliance, promising formalized corporate steps to explore collaborative pathways that strictly align with the agency’s regulatory mandate.
Laying out the coalition’s agenda earlier, CSCTGG Executive Director Comr. Success Uko stated that the civil society body is targeting a structured working relationship with NPERA to aggressively champion open governance, deep stakeholder participation, and public awareness across the maritime sector.
Uko framed NPERA as an absolute kingpin in Nigeria’s transport and maritime matrix. He emphasized that airtight regulatory oversight and seamless access to verified data are the twin pillars needed to revolutionize service delivery and repair public confidence in port operations.
Unveiling the coalition’s strategic roadmap, Uko noted that CSCTGG has designed targeted initiatives centred on anti-corruption and community development, prompting their appeal for NPERA’s structural backing to amplify the program’s nationwide impact.
According to the executive director, the proposed alliance will dismantle information bottlenecks—ensuring shippers, importers, exporters, and transport logistics operators are thoroughly educated on current port policies, operational rights, and legal responsibilities.
Closing the high-level session, Uko locked in the coalition’s commitment, assuring NPERA of their total readiness to deploy civil society machinery in defense of all legitimate agency initiatives that align with its statutory mandate.
