The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called for stronger legal protection, an efficient justice system and deeper collaboration among judicial jurisdictions to protect and enhance growth in the global maritime sector.
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Justice Kekere-Ekun made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute.
The three-day seminar brought together judicial officers, maritime regulators, legal practitioners and participants from several African countries to strengthen maritime jurisprudence and promote better understanding of emerging issues in maritime law.
The CJN described maritime law as one of the major pillars of global commerce, noting that nearly 90 per cent of international trade is transported through the world’s oceans.
She said Nigeria’s maritime resources placed the country in a strong position to benefit from the blue economy, but stressed that sustainable growth in the sector would depend on an efficient, trusted and predictable legal system.
According to her, legal certainty remains one of the strongest incentives for investment, adding that the prompt, impartial and effective resolution of maritime disputes would strengthen investor confidence and support economic development.
Justice Kekere-Ekun said maritime judges must continually build expertise to address emerging legal issues arising from technological innovation, environmental regulation, digital commerce and evolving international maritime obligations.
“The administration of maritime justice remains indispensable to commercial certainty, investor confidence and sustainable development within the blue economy,” she said.
She added that judicial dialogue and cooperation across jurisdictions would strengthen consistency in the interpretation of international maritime instruments and the resolution of increasingly complex disputes.
“Every well-reasoned maritime judgement reinforces confidence in the legal system and strengthens the institutional framework upon which global commerce depends,” the CJN stated.
Justice Kekere-Ekun noted that climate change, maritime security, autonomous vessels and digital shipping are reshaping maritime commerce, making it necessary for courts to balance commercial certainty with environmental protection and international legal obligations.
She urged judges across jurisdictions to deepen collaboration, exchange experiences and adopt comparative approaches capable of resolving sophisticated maritime disputes with consistency and professionalism.
The CJN said seminars such as the annual maritime forum provide valuable opportunities for continuous judicial education, policy engagement and the development of coherent maritime jurisprudence across Africa.
She expressed confidence that the deliberations would produce practical recommendations to strengthen maritime adjudication, deepen regional cooperation and advance Nigeria’s reputation as a credible maritime investment destination.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said maritime justice was no longer merely a sectoral issue but a national economic priority.
Akume said the efficient adjudication of maritime disputes is critical to trade, investment and governance, warning that delays in maritime claims affect commerce, reduce investor confidence and increase the cost of doing business.
“When maritime claims are delayed, trade suffers, investor confidence declines and the cost of doing business increases, with ordinary Nigerians ultimately bearing the consequences,” he said.
He stated that a credible, efficient and knowledgeable maritime justice system is foundational to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s blue economy and sustaining economic diversification.
Akume assured participants that the Federal Government would support the implementation of practical recommendations from the seminar to strengthen maritime justice and institutional reforms.
He said maritime commerce cuts across several government institutions and therefore requires effective collaboration among regulators, ministries and the judiciary to deliver a predictable and efficient maritime business environment.
According to him, agencies responsible for ports, shipping regulation, maritime safety, customs administration and judicial adjudication must work in harmony to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global maritime industry.
The SGF said the government would continue to coordinate inter-agency collaboration to ensure that the seminar’s recommendations are translated into legislative reforms, institutional improvements and better justice delivery for maritime stakeholders.
Akume also welcomed judicial delegations from Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, saying regional judicial cooperation would promote harmonised business laws and facilitate maritime trade across Africa.
He said collaboration among judicial institutions strengthens legal certainty and promotes the confidence needed for cross-border shipping and commercial activities.
“This seminar has become one of Africa’s foremost platforms for judicial learning, maritime law development and institutional cooperation,” Akume said.
He added that the outcomes of the deliberations must go beyond conference halls and translate into practical reforms that benefit businesses, investors and port users.
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