NSC to Host Chief Justices, Supreme Court Justices at 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges in Abuja

Nigerian Shippers Council headquarters, Apapa Lagos

BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), will host the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges from Wednesday, July 22 to Friday, July 24, 2026, at the Ballroom of the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Abuja Continental Hotel (formerly Sheraton Hotel), Abuja.

The three-day seminar, which will run daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., marks 31 years of advancing judicial knowledge and strengthening capacity in maritime law and admiralty practice in Nigeria. Since its inception in 1995, the seminar has evolved into one of the country’s most prestigious maritime legal events.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, will chair the event, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, will serve as Chief Host. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, is the Host of the seminar.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, will attend as Distinguished Guest of Honour. Also expected are the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, as Special Guest of Honour, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, as Guest of Honour.

The biennial seminar provides a unique platform for Justices, Judges, legal practitioners, maritime experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on emerging trends, contemporary legal issues, and global best practices in international maritime law and admiralty practice. It is designed to enhance judicial capacity and promote efficient, consistent, and commercially responsive adjudication of maritime disputes in Nigeria and across the West African sub-region.

This year’s programme will feature presentations by eminent jurists, scholars, maritime law practitioners, and international experts on critical issues shaping maritime jurisprudence. Topics to be discussed include the Admiralty Jurisdiction (Procedure) Rules, 2023 and their implications for maritime adjudication; ship mortgages in Nigeria and the role of the International Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships in facilitating vessel financing and maritime claims; liability, causation, and proof in maritime cargo claims within the framework of port concession arrangements; the alignment of Nigeria’s maritime dispute resolution mechanisms with global arbitration and hybrid justice practices; and the legal characterization and allocation of risks relating to demurrage, detention, and storage charges.

In a demonstration of its growing regional and international significance, the seminar is expected to attract Chief Justices from The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, alongside Justices and Judges from their respective judiciaries.

Participants will also include Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, Judges of the Federal and State High Courts, legal advisers, in-house counsel, maritime and legal practitioners, academics, regulators, and other stakeholders from across the maritime industry.

The International Maritime Seminar for Judges remains a flagship initiative of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, aimed at strengthening maritime jurisprudence and reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime and commercial hub in Africa.

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