The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday in Abuja, expressed his unflinching support for the repeal of the 46-year-old Shippers’ Council Act, and a fresh law that would be in tandem with the current realities in the Maritime sector.
Oyetola stated this during the opening ceremony of the 17th International Maritime Seminar for Judges, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute.
In his speech, he stressed that the Maritime law is not just about resolving conflicts at sea; but also about safeguarding the rights and responsibilities of nations, corporations, and individuals.
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The Minister acknowledged that the judges play a crucial role in shaping the legal landscape that governs the maritime affairs, noting that their interpretations and decisions have far-reaching implications, not only for the businesses and individuals operating in the maritime sector, but also for the long-term sustainability and resilience of our blue economy.
He pointed out that Maritime law is not just about resolving conflicts at sea; it is also about safeguarding the rights and responsibilities of nations, corporations, and individuals, saying that it ensures the protection of the marine environment, the regulation of maritime commerce, and the security of navigation routes.
“My Lords, as guardians of the rule of law, you – the esteemed Judges and Justices gathered here today – play a crucial role in shaping the legal landscape that governs our maritime affairs.
“Your interpretations, and indeed decisions have far-reaching implications, not only for the businesses and individuals operating in the maritime sector, but also for the long-term sustainability and resilience of our blue economy.
“Mr. Chairman, My Lords, Distinguished guests, since the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, we have been working assiduously to strengthen the institutional and legal frameworks of the Agencies under the Ministry.
“In this regard, the Ministry has recently thrown its weight behind the repeal of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act CAP N113 LFN and the Enactment of the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, 2024, in order to bring it up to speed with current realities and maximize the gains of the ongoing reforms when it is eventually passed in to law.
“To our distinguished Judges from various jurisdictions, we earnestly hope, that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s International Maritime Seminar for Judges will provide a veritable platform for the harmonization and indeed unification of business laws for greater economic integration of our dear African Continent.
“As you are aware, if our business laws are harmonized it would go a long way in enhancing International investment, reduce transportation and transactional costs and promote the ease of intra and inter African trade which is currently encouraged by African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
“I will like to seize the opportunity of this august gathering to solicit for the support of stakeholders and all industry players to give our young Ministry the much needed support in order to succeed in creating a pathway towards diversification of the nation’s economy from oil dependency to non-oil economic prosperity.”
Also speaking on the importance of the Seminar while briefing journalists at the Abuja Continental Hotel venue of the three-day programme, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, pointed out that it had become imperative for the Shippers’ Council Act to be reviewed.
Ukeyima, who noted that the Maritime sector in Nigeria is a fast growing one, stressed on the need to put up a new law that would bring the sector up to speed with realities of the contemporary world, saying that the extant law, which was promulgated in 1978 had become obsolete.
He expressed optimism, that the outcome of the ongoing conference would propel efficiency and high productivity in the Maritime industry, noting that eminent jurists and experts in Maritime laws, converted to discuss issues within the Maritime laws.
He said: “This gathering has been happening in the last 32 years. As you can see, this is the 17th edition of this gathering.
“Over the years, this gathering has brought together eminent jurists, experts in Maritime laws, to discuss issues within the Maritime laws, with the aim of educating the judges and legal practitioners in this field of law, in order to promote the efficiency of practitioners in the sector.
“We have benefited a lot from this conference. From the recommendations of this conference in the past, we have a lot of benefits and even in this one, we are expecting a lot of benefits because we have put together an array of experts in Maritime law across the world that are here.
“A lot of quality of work will come out and all of us will be educated on new trends in Maritime sector as far as law and regulations are concerned.
“The Nigerian Shippers Council Act, the current Act, the CAP N 133 LFN 2004, was promulgated in 1978. So, it’s been here for quite a while, and you know that the Maritime sector is fast moving.
“There are a lot of innovations coming up in the sector and there are so many changes even in terms of the conventions that we have adopted over the years, there are some basic requirements that the country should adopt in their laws. We need to bring these laws to speed and bring it to modern realities of the Maritime sector.
“Today, most importantly, Mr. President has found it necessary to focus attention on the Maritime sector, to blue economy.
“Therefore, we need a very strong law, a law that is capable of providing for the modern realities of this sector. So, it’s very important for us, and we believe that the law will give us the regulatory framework that will provide the regulatory services in this sector, especially to come about the efficiency of this sector, so that the business will grow and the Nigerian economy will be better of for it. So, there is a lot of benefits from having this law passed.”
In his speech, the Chairman of the occasion and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, assured the participants that President Bola Tinubu-led administration was committed to fulfilling its international, regional, and subregional obligations, particularly regarding the international conventions, treaties, and agreements to which Nigeria is a signatory.
The Honourable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, Board of Governors, National Judicial Institute, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, while addressing the gathering, noted that Maritime law in Nigeria, being a specialized area of the law, had witnessed novel developments.
My Lords, without preempting what the array of speakers lined up for this Seminar will discuss, let me reiterate that Maritime law in Nigeria, being a specialized area of the law, has witnessed novel developments.
“However, taking into consideration the importance of the blue economy and the maritime industry, being the cornerstone of transportation in International Commerce, it becomes imperative that Seminars of this nature are organized to bring to the front-burner challenges which may impede development of the industry,” he said.
Other eminent personalities who spoke during the occasion include: the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, among others.
