Blue Economy
Senate Gives Final Approval to Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill
Senate Gives Final Approval to Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill
By Igoyota Onaibre | Waterways News Reporter | April 30, 2026
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday gave its final legislative approval to the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NIPERA) Bill, 2026, marking a significant step in the country’s effort to restructure port governance and economic regulation.
The passage followed a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), and co-signed by the Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro (Benue South), during plenary in Abuja.
In an unusual procedural move, the lawmakers first rescinded an earlier version of the bill that had previously been passed and transmitted to the President for assent. The reversal came after a critical review by the Ministry of Justice flagged fundamental legal issues that required fresh legislative attention.
Sen. Bamidele, addressing the Committee of the Whole, explained that a joint technical committee — made up of representatives from the Senate, the House of Representatives, and legal drafting experts from the Directorate of Legal Services — had been constituted to examine those concerns and recommend corrective measures before the bill could be reconsidered.
Invoking Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, the chamber formally rescinded its earlier decision and recommitted the bill to the Committee of the Whole for a fresh, comprehensive review.
After exhaustive clause-by-clause deliberation, the Senate passed the bill in its revised form.
The Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, once signed into law, is expected to establish an independent regulatory framework for port economics in Nigeria — a development that maritime industry stakeholders and waterways operators will be watching closely.
Waterways News will provide further coverage as the bill advances to the presidential assent stage.