Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi says the Federal
Government is marshalling out ways of encouraging the establishment of a
National Shipping Line to ensure maximum exploitation of the potentials
in the maritime industry.
Amaechi also said the Federal government is making efforts at improving
business in the country’s maritime sector especially in the areas of
establishing a deep sea port for modern mega ships as well as the
establishment of dry ports such as the Kaduna inland dry port among
others.
Amaechi spoke in a keynote address he delivered at the 14th Maritime
Seminar for Judges organized by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (a
Parastatal under his ministry), in collaboration with the National
Judicial Institute (NJI).
According to the Minister, “The present administration is looking into
ways of encouraging the establishment of a national shipping line to
ensure maximum exploitation of the potentials in our maritime sector”.
“The Federal Government is doing a lot towards improving on the ease of
doing business in Nigeria especially in the maritime sector. The Federal
Government effort towards trade facilitation includes modernization of
transport infrastructure such as establishment of deep sea ports to
attract the patronage of our seaports by modern mega ships and the
establishment of dry ports such as the Kaduna inland dry port and others
all over the country to decongest the seaports and facilitate expeditious
evacuation of cargo from the seaports among others,” he said.
While also suggesting that maritime laws should be made compulsory
courses in tertiary institutions, Amaechi called on the chief Judge of
the Federal High court to consider the creation of a maritime or
admiralty division in the federal high court to specially handle maritime
cases.
Also, considering the crucial role of the maritime sector in the
development of the economy, Amaechi said “May I remind you of the need
for capacity building in the maritime industry. It is of general
knowledge that most of our maritime trade is carried by foreign ship
owners, thereby limiting the economic benefits accruable to the nation
such as creation of jobs, freight and insurance earnings.”
Amaechi said the maritime seminar will equip the judges and Justices of
superior courts of record as well as relevant stakeholders in the
maritime industry.
In his own address, the honorable Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman
Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute, Hon justice Mahmud
Mohammed said the seminar has contributed immensely to deepening the
synergy between the judiciary and the maritime sector.
“The Nigerian judiciary stands ready to deepen this synergy as part of
our wider reform efforts that will reposition our judiciary for better
justice delivery and retain our place as one of the best judicial
institutions in the world”.
“In furtherance of its drive to ensure a quick dispensation of justice,
the Nigerian judiciary remains similarly committed to the use of a
multi-track, multi-modal justice delivery system that will include a more
robust adoption of alternative dispute resolutions as a veritable medium
of settling dispute.
“It is important for us to ensure that this seminar continues to provide
a platform for introducing new concepts and refreshing our minds on novel
areas of law that govern shipping international trade and admiralty
matters,” he said.
Also in his own remarks, Chairman of the occasion and former Head of
State, Chief Dr. Ernest Shonekon commended the Nigerian Shippers’ Council
and the National Judicial Institute for a healthy collaboration towards
nation building.
“I therefore commend the Nigerian Shippers Council and the National
Judicial Institute for collaborating to organize this seminar which is an
invaluable capacity building programme for those in the bench and the bar
who by the demand of their profession must continue to update themselves
on many areas of human endeavor particularly as they relate to the legal
profession.
“I will like to urge the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the National
Judicial Institute to redouble their efforts to ensure the continuity of
this seminar. So apart from its usefulness to the stakeholders, this
international seminar also serves as a way of domesticating some of the
international conventions and rules that are governing international
trade in the maritime sector. Every effort must be made to sustain it,”
he said.
Earlier, President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Solicitor
General and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Mr. Taiwo Abidoku
described as welcome development for the organizers of the seminar to
encourage the training of judges and legal practitioners in the field of
maritime.
“I am happy to note that efforts are being made by organizers of this
seminar to encourage the training of our judges and legal practitioners
in the important field of maritime law.
“As we are all aware, the maritime sector constitutes the live wire of
global trade and commerce in addition to its historical and current role
in facilitating human interaction among communities, regions and
continents. In view of this fundamental role we must therefore continue to
develop the requisite human capacity to take advantage of opportunities in
the sector,” he said.
PIC: Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi flanked by the
Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed (Left) and former
Head of State and Chairman of the event, Chief Ernest Shonekan at the 14th
Maritime Seminar for Judges organized by a parastatal under the Ministry
of Transportation in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute
(NJI) in Abuja, Tuesday.