Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi says the Federal
\nGovernment is marshalling out ways of encouraging the establishment of a
\nNational Shipping Line to ensure maximum exploitation of the potentials
\nin the maritime industry.<\/p>\n
Amaechi also said the Federal government is making efforts at improving
\nbusiness in the country\u2019s maritime sector especially in the areas of
\nestablishing a deep sea port for modern mega ships as well as the
\nestablishment of dry ports such as the Kaduna inland dry port among
\nothers.<\/p>\n
Amaechi spoke in a keynote address he delivered at the 14th Maritime
\nSeminar for Judges organized by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (a
\nParastatal under his ministry), in collaboration with the National
\nJudicial Institute (NJI).<\/p>\n
According to the Minister, \u201cThe present administration is looking into
\nways of encouraging the establishment of a national shipping line to
\nensure maximum exploitation of the potentials in our maritime sector\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Federal Government is doing a lot towards improving on the ease of
\ndoing business in Nigeria especially in the maritime sector. The Federal
\nGovernment effort towards trade facilitation includes modernization of
\ntransport infrastructure such as establishment of deep sea ports to
\nattract the patronage of our seaports by modern mega ships and the
\nestablishment of dry ports such as the Kaduna inland dry port and others
\nall over the country to decongest the seaports and facilitate expeditious
\nevacuation of cargo from the seaports among others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While also suggesting that maritime laws should be made compulsory
\ncourses in tertiary institutions, Amaechi called on the chief Judge of
\nthe Federal High court to consider the creation of a maritime or
\nadmiralty division in the federal high court to specially handle maritime
\ncases.<\/p>\n
Also, considering the crucial role of the maritime sector in the
\ndevelopment of the economy, Amaechi said \u201cMay I remind you of the need
\nfor capacity building in the maritime industry. It is of general
\nknowledge that most of our maritime trade is carried by foreign ship
\nowners, thereby limiting the economic benefits accruable to the nation
\nsuch as creation of jobs, freight and insurance earnings.\u201d
\nAmaechi said the maritime seminar will equip the judges and Justices of
\nsuperior courts of record as well as relevant stakeholders in the
\nmaritime industry.<\/p>\n
In his own address, the honorable Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman
\nBoard of Governors of the National Judicial Institute, Hon justice Mahmud
\nMohammed said the seminar has contributed immensely to deepening the
\nsynergy between the judiciary and the maritime sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Nigerian judiciary stands ready to deepen this synergy as part of
\nour wider reform efforts that will reposition our judiciary for better
\njustice delivery and retain our place as one of the best judicial
\ninstitutions in the world\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn furtherance of its drive to ensure a quick dispensation of justice,
\nthe Nigerian judiciary remains similarly committed to the use of a
\nmulti-track, multi-modal justice delivery system that will include a more
\nrobust adoption of alternative dispute resolutions as a veritable medium
\nof settling dispute.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important for us to ensure that this seminar continues to provide
\na platform for introducing new concepts and refreshing our minds on novel
\nareas of law that govern shipping international trade and admiralty
\nmatters,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Also in his own remarks, Chairman of the occasion and former Head of
\nState, Chief Dr. Ernest Shonekon commended the Nigerian Shippers\u2019 Council
\nand the National Judicial Institute for a healthy collaboration towards
\nnation building.<\/p>\n
\u201cI therefore commend the Nigerian Shippers Council and the National
\nJudicial Institute for collaborating to organize this seminar which is an
\ninvaluable capacity building programme for those in the bench and the bar
\nwho by the demand of their profession must continue to update themselves
\non many areas of human endeavor particularly as they relate to the legal
\nprofession.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will like to urge the Nigerian Shippers\u2019 Council and the National
\nJudicial Institute to redouble their efforts to ensure the continuity of
\nthis seminar. So apart from its usefulness to the stakeholders, this
\ninternational seminar also serves as a way of domesticating some of the
\ninternational conventions and rules that are governing international
\ntrade in the maritime sector. Every effort must be made to sustain it,\u201d
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Earlier, President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Solicitor
\nGeneral and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Mr. Taiwo Abidoku
\ndescribed as welcome development for the organizers of the seminar to
\nencourage the training of judges and legal practitioners in the field of
\nmaritime.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am happy to note that efforts are being made by organizers of this
\nseminar to encourage the training of our judges and legal practitioners
\nin the important field of maritime law.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we are all aware, the maritime sector constitutes the live wire of
\nglobal trade and commerce in addition to its historical and current role
\nin facilitating human interaction among communities, regions and
\ncontinents. In view of this fundamental role we must therefore continue to
\ndevelop the requisite human capacity to take advantage of opportunities in
\nthe sector,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
PIC: Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi flanked by the
\nChief Justice of Nigeria Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed (Left) and former
\nHead of State and Chairman of the event, Chief Ernest Shonekan at the 14th
\nMaritime Seminar for Judges organized\u00a0 by a parastatal under the Ministry
\nof Transportation in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute
\n(NJI) in Abuja, Tuesday.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28136,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n