Efficient Judiciary Critical To Attracting Port Investment – NSC
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Akutah Pius, has said that an efficient judicial system is essential to attracting investment into Nigeria’s port sector, warning that prolonged delays in resolving maritime disputes discourage both local and foreign investors.
Akutah made the remarks during a technical session at the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges in Abuja, where he stressed the importance of speedy adjudication of maritime cases and stronger collaboration among agencies operating within the nation’s ports.
According to him, investors are reluctant to commit capital in countries where confidence in the judicial system is weak, noting that maritime disputes are often complex, costly and time-consuming to resolve.
He said one of the major objectives of the seminar is to promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms that will enable faster settlement of maritime disputes, improve investor confidence and enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Akutah also called for improved synergy among government agencies involved in port operations, saying poor inter-agency coordination continues to create bottlenecks that slow cargo clearance, increase costs and lead to cargo deterioration.
He explained that operational inefficiencies often result in avoidable delays, cargo damage and prolonged legal disputes, all of which undermine the efficiency of Nigeria’s seaports and affect the ease of doing business.
The NSC boss expressed optimism that the proposed Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, which seeks to designate the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the statutory Port Economic Regulator, would provide the legal framework needed to address operational and commercial challenges in the port sector.
He said the proposed legislation would strengthen economic regulation, promote accountability, improve efficiency and create a more predictable business environment for investors, shipping companies and other port users.
Akutah described the International Maritime Seminar for Judges as a valuable platform for strengthening judicial capacity in maritime law. He noted that the programme equips judges handling maritime cases with deeper knowledge while providing industry stakeholders with an avenue to identify areas requiring reforms.
He added that sustained collaboration between the judiciary and maritime stakeholders would contribute significantly to the growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector through faster and more effective dispute resolution.
Meanwhile, legal and maritime experts at the seminar called for a stronger legal framework to safeguard terminal operators under Nigeria’s port concession regime while ensuring a fair balance between the interests of investors, service providers and port users.
