Lagos, May 12, 2023 – The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, says the judiciary has a role to play in all legal forms of fight against piracy.
He said a secured maritime domain was vital to economic development and advancement.
Ariwodola said this while declaring 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, open in Lagos.
The CJN, who was represented by Hon. Justice Musa Dattjo Muhammad, said 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 said 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 percent 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 center of gravity of the region, whose oil sector accounts for 75 percent of the state’s revenue and about 90 percent of total export.
“The Gulf of Guinea is richly endowed with vast reserves of hydrocarbon, mineral and fisheries resources, making it a strategic area”.
Ariwoola said that the workshop was apt as it would create avenue for capacity building and increased maritime domain awareness.
He said that ultimately, participants at the event would be able to drive conversations on how to maximize the benefits of the maritime sector and also generate ideas and strategies necessary for its sustenance and safety.
The CJN said the colloquium was a proactive measure to further expose judicial officers to fundamental developments in maritime security issues to enable them to be at par with international relevant laws and policies governing the maritime security sub-sector.
He commended the management of NIMASA under the stewardship of Dr Bashir Jamoh for his grit and determination in ensuring that the Agency fulfils its mandate.
Ariwoola said 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 in 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 in 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 coastline 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, Justice John T. Tsoho, the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, also commended the management of NIMASA for its roles in enhancing the development of maritime law and its knowledge.
Tsoho, who was represented by Honourable Justice Adekunle Olayinka Faji, said 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 potential of our country in the Deep Blue Project and the overall growth of our economy”, he said.(GBN)
