Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, in a keynote address he delivered at the 14th Maritime Seminar for Judges organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute. says the Federal Government is working on the establishment of a national shipping line to ensure the maximum exploration of the maritime industry’s potential.
A statement issued on Tuesday by Amaechi’s media office added that maritime laws should be made compulsory courses in tertiary institutions.
The minister said: “The Federal Government is doing a lot towards improving the process of doing business in Nigeria, especially in the maritime sector.
“The Federal Government’s effort towards the facilitation of trade includes the modernisation of transport infrastructure such as the establishment of deep sea ports to attract the patronage of our seaports by modern mega ships and the establishment of dry ports to decongest the seaports and facilitate the expeditious evacuation of cargo from the seaports among others.”
Also speaking was the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who said the seminar had contributed immensely to deepening the synergy between the judiciary and the maritime sector.
“In furtherance of its drive to ensure a quick dispensation of justice, the Nigerian judiciary remains similarly committed to the use of a multi-track, multi-modal justice delivery system that includes a more robust adoption of alternative dispute resolutions as a veritable medium of settling disputes,” Mohammed said.
