By Hauwa Ali
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the National Judicial Institute
hosts the 16th edition of the International Maritime Seminar for Judges
under the chairmanship of Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, a retired Justice of
the Supreme Court.
The 2-day event was held at Ladi Kwali Centre, Sheraton Abuja Hotel, from
5th – 7th July 2022
According to a press release by NSC, the long awaited ‘Prime Event’ would
have taken place in 2020, but was postponed due to the global lockdown
caused by the Covid-19 pandemi.
The event which was attended by Maritime/Legal practitioners from the
judiciary, and foreign experts from Kenya and Australia addressed several
burning and complex issues bedeviling the maritime industry.
The event generated tremendous awareness on contemporary
developments in shipping and International Trade.
The Chief Host of the event, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State for
Transportation, in her address, called for speedy dispensation of maritime
matters by the courts to ensure boost in the sector.
“The importance of speedy and efficient dispensation of maritime matters
by the courts can never be overemphasised because, as we all know, in
international commercial transactions, time is money and it is even more so
in a multi-billion dollar industry like ours.
“I must commend the sustainability of the partnership between the Nigerian
Shippers’ Council and National Judicial Institute which dates back to 1995.
This strategic partnership stemmed from the recognition of the need to
specially furnish our judicial officers with the requisite knowledge to assist
them in facilitating expeditious dispensation of justice in maritime causes in
our courts.
“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 worth mentioning that this seminar series have contributed immensely
in charting the policy direction of government in the maritime sector. I am
happy to state that Government will continue to rely on the important
outcomes of this forum for policy enunciation,” the Minister said.
The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, in his
address, urged the National Judicial Institute to deepen the collaborative
agreement with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to aid the course of justice
and enhance speedy dispensation of justice in admiralty matters.
He also reiterated the need for continued training in order to guarantee the
independence of the judiciary.
“Training will also add value to the quality and efficiency of the judicial
system, which the judiciary is known for. No doubt, capacity-building is an
integral part of the legal profession for members of the Nigerian bar,
irrespective of your chosen field as a judicial officer or a legal practitioner.”
He said.
Ariwoola said the seminar was designed to acquaint participants with
emerging trends in the sphere of admiralty law and the challenges that
digitisation and globalisation may throw up on the adjudication of admiralty
matters.