The Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) has described the recently repassed Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill as a critical step toward addressing gaps in the port governance framework.
Capt. Femi Amusa, a Master Mariner, made this known in an interview with reporters on Sunday in Lagos.
Amusa said the bill, which had undergone several legislative cycles and a previous presidential rejection, highlighted both its importance and lingering concerns over mandate clarity, scope, and regulatory overlap.
According to him, the proposed legislation seeks to institutionalise economic regulation in the port sector and strengthen the role previously performed in a limited capacity by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
“In principle, this is a necessary evolution. Modern port systems cannot function efficiently without an independent economic regulator to ensure tariff discipline, prevent abuse by terminal operators, and promote transparency.
“Stakeholders have long advocated for such a framework to improve efficiency and streamline operations across the maritime value chain,” he said.
However, Amusa warned that the repeated amendments to the bill raised questions about whether earlier concerns — including mandate ambiguity and the controversial freight stabilisation levy — had been fully addressed.
“Regulation without clarity risks creating another layer of bureaucracy and worsening the inefficiencies it seeks to solve,” he said.
He added that the focus should now shift from legislative passage to effective implementation and performance.
Amusa emphasised that the success of the proposed agency would depend on its operational independence, technical competence, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with global best practices.
“Nigeria does not just need a regulator; it needs a credible one. Without credibility and effective execution, this bill could end up like many well-intentioned maritime reforms that failed to deliver meaningful impact,” he said.
The Senate had on April 28 repassed the 2026 Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill after addressing concerns earlier raised by the Presidency. The bill seeks to establish an independent economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector.
