The Administrator, National Ju
dicial Institute, Justice Umaru Eri, has urged the Federal Government to establish an integrated and coordinated maritime system to ensure sustainable development of the sector.
Eri made the call recently in Abuja at the opening of the 13th Maritime Seminar for Judges, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the institute.
He said that a coordinated approach to maritime policies would ensure integrated management of coastal zone, including port development and protection of marine resources.
“The enforcement of relevant laws and rules are essential for the implementation of sustainable development policies in the maritime sector.
“And it is in this regard that the judiciary plays vital role in the interpretation and enforcement of these legislation,’’ he said.
Eri advised that maritime policies should be in tandem with laws of the sector, stating that maritime laws formed part of the oldest system of laws “because seaborne transport was the earliest channel of commerce”.
According to him, the rules for resolving disputes involving maritime matters are developed early in recorded history.
He explained that since no country had jurisdiction over the high sea, it became necessary for nations to reach agreement regarding ways of dealing with ships, crews and cargoes when disputes arose.
The Chairman, NJI’s Committee on Maritime Seminar, Justice Ibrahim Auta, commended the council for its effort at standardising port operations in the country.
Auta, who is the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, said the council’s current effort at sanitising the sea ports would enhance port security and reduce the number of people without genuine business at the ports.
He said that the seminar had attained international status, with participants coming from different parts of the world and commended the council for the effort.
He said the seminar would update the knowledge of judges of superior courts on records, maritime law practitioners and stakeholders in the industry about international laws and conventions.
“The seminar has indirectly provided a very strong platform for continuing education of judges among all strata of courts in Nigeria in line with the vision of National Judicial Institute,” he said.
He urged the participants to review and discuss critical and topical issues on maritime industry in the country.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, called for professional development and continued legal education in the nation’s judiciary.
Adoke said that judges needed specialised training in diverse areas of laws that came before them for adjudication.
The minister said that maritime law, around which the seminar was organised, was one of the specialised areas of law which required constant training and retraining.
Adoke said that retraining judges would help in keeping pace with the constant changes and developments in the shipping industry.
“Without the requisite knowledge and training, judges may become susceptible to manipulation and misdirection by experts.
“The near absence of special courts and experience in dealing with such specialised issues makes seminars such as this maritime seminar compelling,’’ Adoke said.
The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, said the seminar had over the years contributed immensely in influencing policy direction of government in shipping and transport industry.
Umar said this had led to domestication of important maritime conventions.
He said the port reform programme which resulted in concession of the ports brought steady efficiency in terms of cargo delivery as well as competitiveness.