By Joshua Yousouph
The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria; Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and Minister of State, Transportation; Senator Gbemi Saraki have tasked the Judiciary on the need to equip and strengthen the capacity of Judges as well as relevant stakeholders in the Maritime Industry with contemporary knowledge on Admiralty Law and Practice as well as challenging dynamics of international trade.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 16th International Maritime Seminar for Judges organized by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in Collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja on Tuesday, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) noted that the Seminar is to acquaint participants with emerging trends in the sphere of Admiralty Law and the challenges that digitalization and globalization may throw up on the adjudication of admiralty matters.
The Acting CJN who is also the Chairman, Board of Governors, National Judicial Institute said the collaboration over the years, has been invaluable in enabling in-depth discussions on key maritime issues and in particular, creating awareness for Judicial officers on Admiralty matters.
Ariwoola urged the National Judicial Institute to deepen the collaborative engagement with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, in order to aid the course and speedy dispensation of Justice in Admiralty matters.
He said: “Let me also reiterate that Maritime law in Nigeria, being a specialized area of the law, has witnessed novel developments in recent past, taking into consideration the importance of the maritime industry as conventions like the Hamburg Rules as well as the enactment of important legislations like the Merchant Shipping Act; aside, of course, from contributing to the speedy adjudication of maritime disputes coming before the Courts.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Transportation noted that the importance of speedy and efficient dispensation of maritime matters by the courts can never be over-emphasized adding that the strategic partnership stemmed from the recognition of the need to specially furnish judicial officers with the requisite knowledge to assist them in facilitating expeditious dispensation of justice in maritime causes in Nigerian courts.
Saraki who was represented by the Director of Procurement; Dr. Oseni Adamu, stated that the seminar has created a veritable forum where prominent jurists and legal luminaries come together to rub minds on how to enhance the competitiveness and economic viability of the maritime industry, not only through the capacity building of the judicial officers, but also in tackling some of the crucial issues on the front burner of maritime discourse both locally and globally. According to her, this will increase the confidence of investors in the industry.
While calling for the support and cooperation of the Judiciary, the Minister said the seminar series have contributed immensely in charting the policy direction of government in the maritime sector. She however informed that the present administration is looking into ways of encouraging the establishment of a private sector-driven national shipping line to ensure maximum exploitation of the potentials in the maritime industry.
“My Lords, Distinguished Guests, the lacuna created by the low penetration level in Maritime Law at the undergraduate levels of our Universities, coupled with the fast pace of development in international trade, exerts a lot of strain on our judicial officers some of whom are confronted with this special area of the law for the first time when Admiralty matters are brought before their courts for adjudication. It is therefore commendable that this seminar has created a veritable forum where prominent jurists and legal luminaries come together to rub minds on how to enhance the competitiveness and economic viability of our maritime industry, not only through the capacity building of the judicial officers, but indeed also in tackling some of the crucial issues on the front burner of maritime discourse both locally and globally. This will no doubt increase the confidence of investors in the industry, since it is obvious that an efficient, lucid, predictable and stable legal system plays a very significant role in attracting investors.
“It is in the above regard that the development of a national fleet becomes imperative. The present administration is looking into ways of encouraging the establishment of a private sector-driven national shipping line to ensure maximum exploitation of the potentials in our maritime industry. A Ministerial Committee has been working on this important initiative and I look forward to having their concrete recommendations for immediate implementation.
Speaking earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the occasion, Former Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes – Vivour stressed that the Judiciary’s importance acts as a catalyst for economic change and development of a nation. He added that a strong and independent Judiciary in which decisions are rendered fairly, transparently within reasonable time limit and in accordance with international recognized norms encourages foreign and local private sector investment.
Rhodes-Vivour noted that the Seminar provides a specialized forum for the Judicial officers to be equipped with requisite skill and knowledge as a means to an efficient and effective Judicial resolution of Maritime causes. He however called on the Judiciary and Legislature to fully support the reforms in the Maritime sector by giving the Nigerian Shippers’ Council the necessary support to enable it carry out its regulatory roles.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hon Emmanuel Jime,while giving his vote of thanks at the opening ceremony noted the bi-annual international maritime seminar for Judges has been able to cause a positive turnaround in the maritime and shipping industry.
Participants at the seminar came from many West African countries, including Chief Justices of The Gambia, Ghana and Sierra Leone.
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