North-East Businesses to benefit from reduced costs of the country’s ports.
By kamaluddeen Nuhu Ilelah:
Businesses across Nigeria’s North-East are expected to benefit from reduced operating costs, improved access to international markets and fewer losses in the transportation of goods as the Federal Government strengthens the economic regulation of the country’s ports.
The Zonal Director of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), North-East, Mr. Nambol Emmanuel Nanle, disclosed this in an interview, explaining that effective regulation of port tariffs, charges and logistics operations would help businesses cut costs and improve their competitiveness.
Mr. Nambol Emmanuel said the agency’s expanded legal mandate would enable it to regulate tariffs and charges, establish operational standards, license operators and resolve disputes among stakeholders in the port sector.
He explained that high port charges, delays in cargo clearance and inefficient logistics services often increase the cost of importing and exporting goods, placing additional financial pressure on businesses and consumers.
According to him, stronger economic regulation would help address these challenges by improving the movement of goods, eliminating unnecessary costs and enhancing the availability of products in local markets.
The Zonal Director noted that the benefits of efficient port operations extend beyond coastal communities, as businesses and consumers across the country depend on the movement of imported goods and locally produced commodities through Nigeria’s seaports.
He particularly urged agricultural producers, exporters and small and medium-sized enterprises in the North-East to explore opportunities in international trade, noting that improved port services could facilitate access to wider markets.
Mr. Nambol Emmanuel explained that delays in transporting agricultural produce from inland communities to seaports could lead to spoilage, financial losses and failure to meet contractual obligations with international buyers.
He stressed that effective regulation of the logistics chain linking businesses in the hinterland to seaports was essential to reducing transportation costs and ensuring timely delivery of goods.
The Zonal Director recalled that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, established in 1978 to protect the interests of shippers, assumed the role of interim port economic regulator in 2014 following the concessioning of Nigeria’s ports to private terminal operators.
He noted that although port concessioning improved operational efficiency through infrastructure development and the introduction of modern cargo-handling equipment, businesses continued to face additional costs due to limitations in the regulatory framework.
According to him, years of advocacy for stronger regulatory powers culminated in the establishment of NPERA through an Act of Parliament in August 2026, providing the agency with a stronger legal foundation to oversee economic activities in the port sector.
Mr. Nambol Emmanuel said the agency’s Coordinating Directorate Office in Bauchi serves the North-East region, while additional area offices in Yola and Maiduguri provide platforms for businesses to seek guidance and lodge complaints over port-related challenges.
He assured business operators in Bauchi State and other parts of the region of the agency’s commitment to providing the necessary guidance and support to improve their participation in import and export activities.
Mr. Nambol Emmanuel encouraged businesses to take advantage of opportunities in international trade, expressing optimism that effective port economic regulation would help lower operating costs, stimulate commercial activities and contribute to economic growth across the North-East.
