The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) has called for effective economic regulation, improved port efficiency and stronger multimodal transport integration to reduce logistics costs and enhance Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.

The Director-General of NPERA, Dr Pius Akutah, made the call in his goodwill message at the second edition of the Nigerian Transport Summit 2026, organised by JustAlive Communications Ltd. in Lagos on Friday.

The summit had the theme: “Navigating Global Disruptions and the Road Ahead: Mobility, Energy and Trade Facilitation for a Resilient Future.”

Akutah said an efficient, integrated and competitive transport system was essential to reducing the cost of doing business, attracting investment and strengthening the performance of the national economy.

He said effective port economic regulation would promote transparency, fairness, accountability and predictability in the provision of port and related shipping services.

According to him, the agency’s responsibility extends beyond regulatory oversight to creating an environment where service providers can operate efficiently, investors can make informed decisions and port users can conduct business with greater confidence.

He said NPERA was committed to supporting a port system that reduced avoidable costs, improved operational efficiency, encouraged fair competition and strengthened Nigeria’s position as a competitive maritime and trade destination.

On trade facilitation, the NPERA chief identified cargo clearance delays, excessive or unpredictable charges, inadequate infrastructure and weak coordination among stakeholders as challenges capable of increasing logistics costs and undermining the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses.

He called for sustained collaboration among government agencies, port authorities, terminal operators, shipping companies, transport providers and other stakeholders to address the challenges.

Akutah also stressed the need for improved information sharing, transparent procedures, effective complaint-resolution mechanisms and the responsible application of technology to port and transport operations.

He said a well-regulated port environment would contribute to lower trade costs, improved service standards and a more attractive investment climate.

On multimodal transport integration, Akutah said Nigeria needed effective connections among road, rail, inland waterways and other transport modes to facilitate the seamless movement of cargo from seaports to inland markets and production centres.

He noted that supporting transport infrastructure could help decongest seaports, improve cargo evacuation and expand access to shipping services for businesses in the hinterland.

However, he said the benefits of such facilities depended on adequate transport connections, effective regulatory coordination, appropriate operational arrangements and commercial partnerships.

He urged stakeholders to address bottlenecks affecting rail freight services, road transport costs, cargo documentation and shipping arrangements to improve the utilisation of inland transport infrastructure.

Akutah said the challenges confronting the transport sector were interconnected and required coordinated action by government institutions, regulators, infrastructure providers, operators, investors and the business community.

He described the summit as an important platform for exchanging ideas, encouraging constructive engagement and developing partnerships capable of translating policy objectives into practical outcomes.

He urged participants to focus on actionable solutions to challenges affecting port operations, cargo evacuation, transport infrastructure, energy supply, logistics costs and trade facilitation.

The NPERA director-general further called for the adoption of innovation, digitalisation, environmental sustainability and international best practices, while ensuring that policies and regulatory interventions reflected Nigeria’s economic and operational realities.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to engaging stakeholders in building a transparent, efficient, competitive and sustainable port and maritime environment.

The central takeaway is that effective port regulation must go hand in hand with better infrastructure, coordinated cargo movement and predictable charges if Nigeria is to reduce logistics costs and improve trade competitiveness.