The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume has called for synergy among stakeholders in the maritime industry in order to eradicate corrupt practices in the sector.
Akume made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at the 17th edition of the International Maritime Seminar for Judges.
He lamented that corruption was a significant impediment to development and efficiency in any society as it increases the cost of doing business, limits economic growth, negatively impacts social well-being, deprives the government of legitimate revenue and tarnishes the country’s image.
“I therefore, call on all stakeholders to work together harmoniously to eradicate corruption and corrupt practices from the maritime industry,” he said.
In his remarks, the Minister of marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola said since the creation of the ministry, they have been working hard to strengthen the institutional and legal frameworks of the agencies under the ministry.
In this regard, Oyetola said his ministry has recently thrown its weight behind the repeal of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act and the enactment of the Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill, 2024, in order to bring it up to speed with current realities and maximise the gains of the ongoing reforms when it is eventually passed in to law.
He, therefore, urged the judges from various jurisdictions, to provide a veritable platform for the harmonization and unification of business laws for greater economic integration.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Akutah Pius, explained that the gathering which has been happening for the last 32 years has brought together eminent jurists experts in maritime law to discuss issues within the maritime law for the aim of educating the judges and practitioners in this field of law in order to promote the efficiency of the court proceedings in maritime law.
On the need for repeal of the Shippers Council Act, he said the maritime sector was fast moving as there are a lot of innovations and changes coming up in the sector, therefore the need for basic requirements that countries should adopt in their laws.
He said: “We need to bring this law to speed and bring it to the modern realities of the maritime sector.
“The President has found it necessary to focus attention in the maritime sector to grow the economy. Therefore, we need a very strong law that is capable of providing for the modern realities of the sector.”