- Says Court Delays Hurting Trade, Investment
The Federal Government has pledged to overhaul Nigeria’s maritime justice system by implementing key resolutions from the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges, declaring that speedy and credible dispute resolution is critical to unlocking the nation’s blue economy and attracting global investment.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, made the commitment on Wednesday at the opening of the three-day seminar in Abuja, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Nigerian Maritime Law Association.
Akume warned that delays in resolving maritime disputes continue to undermine trade, discourage investors and drive up the cost of imported goods, with ordinary Nigerians ultimately paying the price.
“When a maritime claim is delayed in court, trade suffers. When a ship arrest is poorly executed, investor confidence falls. When cargo liability disputes go unresolved, the cost of importing essential goods rises, and it is ordinary Nigerians who bear that cost,” he said.
The SGF assured participants that the Federal Government would ensure that recommendations emerging from the seminar translate into concrete policy actions rather than remaining mere conference resolutions.
“The work done in this hall over the next three days should not remain in this hall. It must find expression in policy, legislation, institutional reform and ultimately in the daily experience of every Nigerian who does business through our ports or seeks justice in our courts,” Akume declared.
He disclosed that recommendations requiring legislative amendments would be forwarded to the National Assembly through the Federal Ministry of Justice, while those involving the ratification of international maritime conventions would receive executive attention.
According to him, an efficient and predictable maritime justice system is central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the Blue Economy, stressing that investors will only commit capital where there is confidence in the rule of law and effective dispute resolution.
“No serious investor will commit resources to a maritime economy without confidence in the country’s justice system,” he noted.
Akume also called for stronger collaboration among key maritime agencies, including the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Federal High Court.
He said improved information sharing, regulatory alignment and institutional cooperation were essential to building a more efficient and globally competitive maritime sector.
The SGF commended the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for sustaining the International Maritime Seminar for Judges since 1995, describing it as one of Africa’s foremost platforms for judicial capacity building in maritime law.
He also welcomed judicial officers from Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Kenya and Liberia, expressing confidence that the seminar would deepen regional legal cooperation, harmonise maritime business laws and strengthen trade across the African continent.
The three-day event has drawn judges, maritime law experts and industry stakeholders from across Africa to examine emerging issues in maritime law, shipping regulation and dispute resolution as Nigeria intensifies efforts to position itself as a leading maritime and blue economy hub.
