The National Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) is set to strictly enforce its new 2026 regulatory Act using heavy fines and criminal prosecutions to sanitize Nigeria’s maritime sector. Speaking on the development, NPERA Director-General/CEO, Dr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima, MON, emphasized that the agency will no longer tolerate non-compliance, prompting immediate alignment from stakeholders as the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) moves to comply with the new directives.
Dr. Akutah disclosed this on Tuesday, September 23, 2026, at the NPERA Headquarters in Lagos during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the MACN, led by its Executive Director, Mrs. Cecilia Müller Torbrand.
The NPERA boss explained that the new legislation marks a sweeping departure from the legacy Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act, which he characterized as merely “persuasive” and critically deficient in enforcement teeth. According to him, the newly enacted framework establishes a rigid culture of deterrence to combat corruption and stamp out unethical practices tied to freight, tariffs, charges, and service delivery across the nation’s ports.
On the mechanics of enforcement, Akutah revealed that the apex regulator will birth a dedicated Enforcement Department. This specialized unit will feature elite security operatives embedded directly within and answering to the agency—a strategic design structured to guarantee absolute compliance and eliminate the risk of regulatory compromise.
He further assured that while NPERA maintains absolute regulatory oversight, it will strengthen its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MACN. This includes launching a high-functioning Help Desk equipped with clear escalation channels to instantly report infractions and benchmark Nigeria’s port operations against global best practices.
Responding, the Executive Director of MACN, Mrs. Cecilia Müller Torbrand, stated that the network’s mission to optimize maritime trade efficiency aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s bold Blue Economy vision.
Mrs. Torbrand—who commands a global alliance of over 200 maritime entities committed to zero tolerance for corruption—noted that MACN’s presence in Nigeria since 2012 has allowed it to witness significant strides, particularly under a government that actively listens and fosters private-sector compliance.
“You should see us as a partner, but also as a mediator between the public and private sectors. We bring intelligence, experience, and a global membership that can inspire discussions on how ports can run more efficiently,” she stated.
Also speaking, MACN’s Nigerian Representative and CEO of the Convention on Business Integrity, Mr. Soji Apampa, emphasized that the network’s Collective Action framework has successfully curbed extortion at domestic gateways through its anonymous incident-reporting system and adherence to regulatory bodies.
Mr. Apampa explained that since 2012, the network has worked hand-in-hand with the legacy Nigerian Shippers’ Council, port authorities, and private operators to promote strict transparency through joint risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures. He added that the creation of the Port Standing Task Team and the initial Help Desk were direct results of MACN’s compliance advocacy to eliminate operational bottlenecks.
“We have seen progress, but we need to sustain the momentum. The establishment of NPERA with clear enforcement powers is a gamechanger. MACN is ready to support NPERA with data, global experience, and training to ensure that the Help Desk becomes more functional, reports are escalated transparently, and outcomes are measurable,” Apampa noted.
He further affirmed that MACN will continue to sensitize the shipping industry on NPERA’s new regulatory protocols and strict compliance mandates to boost Nigeria’s global ease-of-doing-business ranking.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Akutah welcomed MACN’s commitment to compliance, noting that NPERA is opening a decisive new chapter to fast-track maritime growth for the country’s Blue Economy.
The NPERA boss added that the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has successfully resolved lingering inter-agency rivalries, paving the way for unprecedented, unified development across the sector.
