Oyetola Transfers Inland Dry Ports to Nigerian Ports Authority

Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has directed the transfer of the inland dry port (IDP) functions from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). This decision aims to create a clear separation between port economic regulation, development, and operations.

A statement from his Special Adviser, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, announced this directive in Abuja on Thursday. Oyetola also instructed the immediate formation of a ministerial committee to oversee the transition of the NSC into the newly established Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the NPERA Act, 2026.

The NPERA Act, signed in August, establishes a dedicated economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector, ending a two-decade wait for such a body. Oyetola emphasized the importance of managing the transition effectively to ensure that NPERA can focus on its regulatory responsibilities without conflicts of interest.