In Lagos, the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) announced that corporations found guilty of violating port regulations could face fines of up to N20 million. The warning was issued by NPERA Director‑General Dr Pius Akutah during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Dr Akutah said the new penalties are part of a broader effort to enforce stricter compliance and improve efficiency in the maritime sector, a key component of Nigeria’s ambition to reach a $1 trillion economy. The changes stem from the NPERA Act 2026, which grants the agency enhanced legal powers to regulate ports, protect investments and boost operational performance.
Under the new framework, the minimum penalty for an individual first offender is N500,000, with higher fines for repeat violations. Corporations can be fined up to N20 million, and the agency reserves the right to multiply the penalty if a company continues to breach the law.
“In the past, there was no such potency in our law, so we couldn’t enforce anything because the penalties were too insignificant to deter any infraction,” Dr Akutah explained. “The idea is not to upset the system and make it chaotic or abnormal but rather to create a deterrent regime through the provisions of the law. With the fear of the consequences, they will play by the rules naturally.”
The stricter sanctions differ from the previous regulatory framework under the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, where penalties were deemed insufficient to deter infractions. NPERA’s new measures aim to create a more robust deterrent regime and ensure that port operators adhere to the updated rules.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
