Lagos – Participants at a Maritime Seminar for Judges rose on Wednesday in Abuja with a suggestion that considering its roles, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) should transform to National Transport Commission (NTC).
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the two-day seminar, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
According to the communique, in consideration of the National Transport Commission (NTC) Bill before the National Assembly, regards must be made to the history, legal functions and legal contents of the NSC.
The seminar participants said that the Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, consider the enactment of the Ports and Harbour Authority Act.
Participants also called for the harmonisation of existing domestic maritime laws to avoid duplicity of functions among agencies.
The communiqué urged government to put in place adequate measures to sanitise the freight forwarding and the customs brokerage business in Nigeria ports.
It also urged the Federal Government to factor independent power providers into renewals of the concession/lease at the Nigerian ports to solve the country’s power problems.
According the communiqué, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) should initiate legislations to cover liability of terminal operators for loss, damage or delay to cargo.
This, the communiqué said, was in accordance with the framework under the United Nations Convention on Liability of Terminal Operators 1991.
It called for the teaching of the Admiralty law in Nigerian universities in view of its strategic importance in Nigeria.
The communiqué stressed the need for a holistic review of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Procedure Rules 2011 and the establishment of an Admiralty Division in the Federal High Court.
It said that it was pertinent to review the Evidence Act on electronic evidence and further consider the enactment of an Information Technology Act similar to the Indian Information Technology Act 2010.
The communiqué recommended the establishment of an Electronic Registry (E-Registry) where security granted with respect to electronic documents can be registered and recorded.
On Cyber security, it called for a review of the Cyber Crime Prohibition Act 2015 to address existing lacunae, particularly the inadequate punitive measures.
The communiqué said that there was an urgent need for a National Policy on Cyber security in view of the very obvious threat to maritime security.
“There is need to develop specific cyber security guidelines for the maritime industry, ’’ the communiqué said.
It then called on stakeholders in the maritime industry to educate employees on cyber security.
NAN reports that the 14th Biennial Maritime Seminar for Judges, was organised by the NSC and Federal Ministry of Transportation in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute ( NJI) and Nigerian Maritime Law Association.
The seminar was aimed at updating the knowledge base of Judges of superior courts in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region constitutionally vested with original and appellate admiralty jurisdiction.
This is to adequately prepare the Judges to face the challenges of interpretation and application of both domestic and international laws on maritime issues.
The seminar was attended by judges, maritime law practitioners, marine underwriters, law lecturers, transport and logistics experts and other Industry
stakeholders. (NAN)
