The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has called for stronger collaboration among government agencies operating at the nation’s seaports as part of efforts to eliminate cargo clearance delays, reduce cargo losses, and improve overall port efficiency.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Dr. Pius Akutah, MON, made the call during a technical session at the ongoing 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges in Abuja.
Speaking on the legal and financial implications of cargo delays, Dr. Akutah said improved coordination among port regulatory agencies is critical to addressing long-standing operational inefficiencies that continue to slow cargo clearance, increase business costs, and trigger avoidable litigation.
According to him, weak inter-agency collaboration has remained a major challenge within Nigeria’s maritime sector, resulting in prolonged cargo dwell time, deterioration of goods, rising operational expenses, and frequent commercial disputes.
Dr. Akutah also expressed confidence that the proposed Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, which designates the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the country’s statutory Port Economic Regulator, will provide a comprehensive legal framework to address many of the operational and commercial bottlenecks affecting Nigeria’s ports.
He explained that the proposed legislation would strengthen economic regulation in the port sector, promote transparency and accountability, improve service delivery, and create a more predictable business environment capable of attracting greater private investment.
Commenting on the significance of the seminar, the NSC boss described the annual gathering as a vital platform for enhancing 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.
Dr. Akutah stressed that closer engagement between the judiciary and maritime stakeholders would strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s legal system while supporting the sustainable growth of the maritime industry.
He warned that delays in resolving maritime disputes discourage both local and foreign investment, noting that investors are more likely to commit capital to jurisdictions where disputes are resolved efficiently.
“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.
Earlier during the technical session, maritime lawyers and industry experts advocated 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.
The 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), continues to serve as a strategic platform for advancing maritime jurisprudence, strengthening the administration of maritime justice, and promoting ease of doing business within Nigeria’s port industry.
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