The Director-General of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, Pius Akutah, has said transparent and predictable port regulation is essential to reducing logistics costs, attracting investment and unlocking Nigeria’s fisheries and blue-economy potential.
Akutah spoke at the National Conference on Sustainable Fishing organised by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.
He said increasing fish production alone would not strengthen the fisheries value chain, stressing that efficient infrastructure, reliable logistics and a predictable business environment were also needed to move fish from landing sites to consumers and export markets.
According to him, Nigeria’s maritime economy extends beyond shipping to include fisheries, aquaculture, coastal commerce, marine services, logistics and tourism. Fishing vessels depend on imported equipment, while processors and exporters require machinery, refrigeration, efficient cargo handling, documentation and transportation.
Akutah identified high operating costs, inadequate cold-chain facilities, post-harvest losses, illegal fishing, limited access to finance and governance challenges as major constraints to the sector.
He said unclear charges, weak service standards, fragmented procedures and avoidable delays could raise costs and undermine the competitiveness of Nigerian seafood products.
He explained that port economic regulation covered tariffs, service standards, competition, market access, commercial conduct and dispute resolution. Under the Port Economic Regulations 2015, the framework also seeks to improve efficiency, reduce the cost of doing business, encourage private investment and monitor concession agreements.
Akutah said NPERA’s assumption in 2026 of the former economic-regulatory responsibilities of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council provided an opportunity to strengthen the system. While NPERA oversees tariffs, licensing, service standards, competition, dispute resolution and trade facilitation, the Nigerian Ports Authority remains responsible for port infrastructure and landlord functions.
He called for transparent tariffs, publication of approved charges, measurable service standards and effective dispute resolution. Because fish is highly perishable, he said delays in inspection, documentation, cargo release, refrigerated handling and transportation could cause spoilage and reduce product quality.
Akutah also advocated investment in cold rooms, ice plants, reefer facilities and temperature-controlled transport, as well as better digital cooperation among port, customs, maritime, fisheries, health and other government systems.
He proposed a fisheries logistics window offering standardised documentation, coordinated inspections, priority processing for time-sensitive cargo and clear escalation procedures.
He urged authorities to connect coastal landing sites with processors, cold stores, roads, railways, inland waterways, ports, airports and markets.
Akutah stressed that reforms must benefit artisanal operators who depend on affordable ice, fuel, equipment, transport, finance and market access, even when they do not use major seaports.
He recommended stronger traceability controls against illegal fishing, concessions that encourage investment in cold-chain and green infrastructure, and a public dashboard showing selected port-performance indicators.
According to him, Nigeria’s blue-economy ambitions will depend not only on its marine resources but also on institutions and infrastructure capable of converting those resources into value efficiently, inclusively and sustainably.
“Sustainable fishing requires sustainable logistics, and sustainable logistics requires sound economic regulation,” Akutah said.