From left: Justice Mohammed Shuaibu JCA, Executive Director, Finance and Administration NIMASA, Chudi Offodille Justice Musa Muhammad CFR, JSC, Prof DG Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS)Prof. Muhammed Lawan. Administrator of National Judicial Institution (NJI) Hon. Justice Salisu Garba and Rear Admiral Barabutemegha Gbassa at the Nigerian Admiralty Law Colloquium in Lagos.

Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON has said that a secure maritime domain was crucial to the country’s economic growth and development. He however believes strongly that the judiciary has a vital role to play in all legal forms in the fight against piracy and other criminalities in the maritime domain.

Speaking while declaring open the 3rd edition of the Nigerian Admiralty Law Colloquium for Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal and Judges of the Federal High Court in Lagos, the CJN commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA for it resolve to rid the Gulf of Guinea of piracy and other maritime crimes.

The theme of the event was: “Beyond Maritime Security Threats in The Gulf of Guinea: Harnessing the Gains of a Secure Maritime Domain”, and was organised by NIMASA in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies NIALS and the National Judicial Institute NJI, for Justices of the Supreme Court and Appeal Court and Judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

Represented at the event by Justice Musa Muhammad, CFR, Justice Ariwoola admitted that he was pleased with the 2023 edition of the Nigerian Admiralty Law Colloquium because it was tailored towards effective and efficient adjudication of cases as well as curbing the menace of piracy within the Gulf of Guinea. He observed that the Gulf of Guinea was richly endowed, and that it was necessary for key players in the maritime sector to continually engage in constructive discussions to achieve the benefits associated with the maritime industry.

“The Gulf of Guinea encompasses eight African countries, to wit; Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo. These countries are home to about 4.5 per cent of the world’s proven oil reserves and about 2.7 percent of proven natural gas reserve. Two-thirds of these reserves are concentrated within the exclusive economic zone of Nigeria, the centre of gravity of the region, whose oil sector accounts for 75 per cent of the state’s revenue and about 90 per cent of total export. The Gulf of Guinea is richly endowed with vast reserves of hydrocarbon, minerals and fisheries resources, making it a strategic area”, he said.

According to him, the workshop was apt, as it would create avenue for capacity building and increased maritime domain awareness. He affirmed his belief that ultimately, participants at the event would be able to drive conversations on how to maximise the benefits of the maritime sector and also generate ideas and strategies necessary for its sustenance and safety. He noted that the colloquium was a proactive measure to further expose judicial Officers to fundamental developments in maritime security issues, enabling them to be at par with international relevant laws and policies governing the maritime security sub-sector.

The CJN commended the Management of NIMASA under Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR, for his grit and determination in ensuring that the agency fulfils its mandate. He noted that under Jamoh, the agency had recorded notable improvements in maritime security and safety, especially through effective implementation of the Deep Blue Project which has, among other things, led to the impressive decline in piracy and armed robbery on the sea.

“The legal strategies being adopted by Nigeria to combat maritime piracy and armed robbery on the Nigerian waters have not gone unnoticed. This is evident in the creation of the Nigeria’s Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Act SPOMO 2019. Before the advent of the 2019 Anti-Piracy Act, there were no specific ‘laws to determine the context of piracy on Nigerian waters and legal enforcement in response to maritime insecurity.

“Thus, the 2019 Anti-Piracy Act is an important step in securing the country’s coastlines and seas. It has also ensured an increased level of transparency and accountability in the maritime sector, by strengthening the governing institutions to attract investment capital through implementation of regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian maritime industry. This will encourage foreign investors to have a sense of trust in the Nigerian Maritime industry, which will enhance revenue for the government while ensuring a fair return on investment”, the CJN said.

In his remarks, the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Tsoho commended the management of NIMASA for its roles in enhancing the development of maritime law and its knowledge. Justice Tsoho who was represented by Justice Adekunle Faji, noted that since the Federal High Court was the court with primary jurisdiction in maritime matters, Federal High Court would always support relevant legislations that would ensure efficiency and effectiveness in harnessing the gains in the maritime industry.

“The price of peace and freedom is however vigilance. If we are to harness the gains of a secured maritime domain, we must continue to build capacity and fine-tune our laws. It is in this connection that I must state that work has been concluded on the new Admiralty Jurisdiction Procedure Rules and the text has been sent for gazetting. It is thus only a matter of days before the new Rules will come into force.

“The Nigerian Maritime Law Association NMLA is also at work on the new Admiralty Jurisdiction Act. All these legislative efforts are geared towards enhancing the potentials of our country in the Deep Blue Project and the overall growth of our economy”, he said.

Director General of NIMASA, Jamoh in his opening remarks, observed that it was gratifying to note that the admiralty workshop had moved so rapidly that so soon, after a dark period when all discourse centred around insecurity and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

“NIMASA and all stakeholders in the maritime industry are today sufficiently emboldened to move the trend of engagement to another level, as the maritime industry gave consideration to the vital issue of harnessing the gains of a secure maritime domain”, he said. 

Jamoh, who was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile, stated that a well-developed blue economy would be strong enough to service Nigeria’s annual budget, because it encompasses all economic activities associated with the oceans and seas. He however observed that despite these endowments and abundant resources in the nation’s oceans and seas to back her economic diversification and development drive, Nigeria was yet to take full advantage of the emergent ocean economy to expand its revenue base.

The DG said: “Since the concept of the blue economy began to gain traction decades ago, maritime nations have been harnessing the full benefits of the ocean economy by protecting their oceans and seas, which is why NIMASA is working tirelessly to secure our waters and the Gulf of Guinea. The time has come for us as a nation to build on the successful achievement of security in the Gulf of Guinea and work intentionally to harness the profitability of our maritime space”.

The event was attended by the Chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Z. Gambo, who was represented by Rear Admiral BJ Gbassa, the Chief Justice of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies NIALS, Professor Muhammed Ladan, Sir Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill, the Chief Justice of Anambra State, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, Dr. Emeka Akabogu, Mike Igbokwe, SAN, among other stakeholders in the maritime and judicial sectors.