To halt the bleeding of funds caused by prolonged port delays, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) is championing a unified front among government agencies to fast-track cargo clearance and drastically minimize operational disputes.
Speaking at a high-level technical session, the Council’s Executive Secretary and CEO, Dr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCILT, laid out this roadmap at the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges in Abuja.
Delving into the legal and financial fallout of cargo stagnation, Dr. Akutah declared that building institutional bridges between regulatory bodies is the only way to rescue port efficiency.
The current regulatory fragmentation acts as a heavy tax on Nigerian shipping—driving up container turnaround times, destroying goods in transit, and overwhelming the judiciary with avoidable maritime lawsuits.
In response to seminar panellist calls for protective laws tailored for concessioned terminal operators, Dr. Akutah repositioned the legislative debate around the NPERA Bill. This sweeping reform bill designates the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the definitive Port Economic Regulator, creating a powerful mechanism to overhaul operational standards and fast-track port clearance.
According to him, the proposed legislation will strengthen economic regulation within the port sector, promote efficiency, enhance accountability, and create a more predictable business environment for investors and port users.
The NSC boss also highlighted the importance of the International Maritime Seminar for Judges, describing it as a critical platform for strengthening judicial capacity in maritime law and improving the resolution of maritime disputes
“The importance of maritime cases cannot be overemphasised. This seminar provides an important opportunity for judges handling maritime matters to deepen their knowledge while enabling stakeholders to identify areas requiring improvement for the growth of the sector,” he said.
Sustained synergy between judicial officers and maritime heavyweights will ultimately anchor the industry’s growth by institutionalizing rapid dispute mechanisms, he added.
The NSC chief made it clear that judicial delays are a direct tax on the maritime economy, choking investment inflows and weakening public trust in legal frameworks.
“No investor will bring capital into a country where there is no confidence in the judicial system. Maritime disputes are often complex, time-consuming and expensive to resolve. One of the key objectives of this seminar is to promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that will ensure quicker settlement of maritime disputes and inspire investor confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector,” he stated.
The technical session opened with a stark reminder of the high stakes in port management, as legal and maritime authorities pressed for a sturdier statutory framework to protect concessioned terminal operators, while keeping the playing field level for investors and cargo owners alike.
Bridging the gap between law and commerce, the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges—spearheaded by the NSC and the National Judicial Institute (NJI)—serves as a vital staging ground for modernizing maritime jurisprudence to unlock smoother port operations nationwide.
