Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar had reassured that the Federal Government was committed to the development of deep seaports to decongest the over-stretched port facilities in the country.
Umar said this in Abuja yesterday in his keynote address at the 12th Maritime Seminar for Judges.
He explained that such commitment was meant to promote international trade and transform the nation into a hub for West and Central Africa.
Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar had reassured that the Federal Government was committed to the development of deep seaports to decongest the over-stretched port facilities in the country.
Umar said this in Abuja yesterday in his keynote address at the 12th Maritime Seminar for Judges.
He explained that such commitment was meant to promote international trade and transform the nation into a hub for West and Central Africa.
According to him, already, the development of Lekki deep sea port by a firm `Tolaram’ in collaboration with the Federal Government and Lagos State Government had since commenced, while discussions had reached advanced stage on the development of Ibaka deep seaport in Akwa Ibom as well as the Badagry deep seaport to be executed under Public, Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement .
“There is equally great potential in the development of Olokola deep seaport in Ogun and Ondo states, ‘’ Umar said.
The minister also added that as part of its preparedness to develop an adequate, safe, environmentally friendly, efficient and affordable integrated transport system within the framework of a progressive and competitive market economy, Federal government is to award contract for the dredging of Calabar port this year.
On provision of infrastructures, he added that the contract for construction of break waters at Escravos would be awarded this year.
He added that the Federal Ministry of Transport is collaborating with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and private investors to actualise the expansion of the Koko port, which according to him, “is sine qua non to the realisation of the gas revolution in the country.
On the seminar, the minister said that it was quite commendable that the maritime seminar for judges had received international acclaim and acknowledgment.
This enduring partnership between the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the National Judicial Institute had become a veritable forum for updating the knowledge of our judges and lawyers on contemporary and sometimes recondite issues of admiralty law,’’ the minister said.
According to him, over the years, the seminar has had tremendous impact in the areas of key policy decisions of government, maritime legislations and judicial decisions.
He said the seminar would focus on key areas that were considered critical to the development of the maritime sectors with associated economic potentials.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the Speaker, House of Representatives Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, commended the organisers of the seminar for updating the knowledge of judges, lawyers and other stakeholders on admiralty law.
Tambuwal said this was testimony that the seminar must be taken serious by the National Assembly.
He recalled that the National Assembly had passed some maritime laws like the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act (Cabotage) 2003; the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding of Nigeria Act 2007; and the Convention of Carriage of Goods as well as the Merchant Shipping Act.
Tambuwal urged the House Committee on Marine Transport to liaise with the Shippers’ Council and other maritime parastatals and the Federal Ministry of Transport to domesticate international maritime conventions.
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