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| Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari |
President
Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday stressed the importance of having the Nigerian
Shippers’ Council, NSC, as the nation’s ports economic regulator, saying the
council was appointed to enhance the efficiency, competitiveness and economic
viability of the maritime sector.
Buhari also called on all agencies and stakeholders to do away with all forms
of corrupt practices in the sector.
The President told
stakeholders made up of judges from the Supreme Court, Federal High Courts,
Appeal courts, states and those from neighbouring countries who attended the
maritime seminar for judges held at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, that the reform in
the nation’s ports cannot be complete without having an economic regulator.
stakeholders made up of judges from the Supreme Court, Federal High Courts,
Appeal courts, states and those from neighbouring countries who attended the
maritime seminar for judges held at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, that the reform in
the nation’s ports cannot be complete without having an economic regulator.
According to him,
the need for a regulator at this critical time of economic downturn has become
imperative to encourage transparency in economic activities.
the need for a regulator at this critical time of economic downturn has become
imperative to encourage transparency in economic activities.
Buhari who was
represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Justice Taiwo Abiboki, also
said that the economic regulator was needed to enhance revenue generation and
boost patronage of the seaports for import and export trade.
represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Justice Taiwo Abiboki, also
said that the economic regulator was needed to enhance revenue generation and
boost patronage of the seaports for import and export trade.
Calling on both
judiciary and the legislature to lend their support to the reform measures for
the sake of the national economy, Buhari also called on the Council as the
economic regulator to come up with viable blueprints for achieving maximum
exploitation of the economic potentials of the maritime industry.
judiciary and the legislature to lend their support to the reform measures for
the sake of the national economy, Buhari also called on the Council as the
economic regulator to come up with viable blueprints for achieving maximum
exploitation of the economic potentials of the maritime industry.
The President also
said that for the nation to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency in the
maritime industry, there must be concerted efforts to get rid of fraudulent and
corrupt practices in the sector.
said that for the nation to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency in the
maritime industry, there must be concerted efforts to get rid of fraudulent and
corrupt practices in the sector.
“Corruption as we
all know is one of the enemies of economic development. Corruption increases
cost of doing business, destroys ease of doing business, distorts processes and
procedures, robs government of legitimate revenue and also gives the country a
bad image.
all know is one of the enemies of economic development. Corruption increases
cost of doing business, destroys ease of doing business, distorts processes and
procedures, robs government of legitimate revenue and also gives the country a
bad image.
“One way of
removing corruption from our economy is to have lucid, clear, simple and
predicative rules governing our economic activities. Another sure way of
reducing corruption is by embracing automation.
removing corruption from our economy is to have lucid, clear, simple and
predicative rules governing our economic activities. Another sure way of
reducing corruption is by embracing automation.
“We cannot afford
to perpetuate the cases of mismanagement and squander of national resources
which we have witnessed in some of our institutions in the sector.
to perpetuate the cases of mismanagement and squander of national resources
which we have witnessed in some of our institutions in the sector.
The time for
a paradigm shift is now, and in line with our agenda for a corruption-free
society, let me assure you that my administration will encourage and enforce
discipline and sanity in the sector.”
The President
called on the judiciary to adjudicate disputes arising from the activities of
domestic and international stakeholders in the sector in a fair and equitable
manner as well as in prosecuting cases arising from malfeasances in the sector.
called on the judiciary to adjudicate disputes arising from the activities of
domestic and international stakeholders in the sector in a fair and equitable
manner as well as in prosecuting cases arising from malfeasances in the sector.
During the event,
the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, also said that the maritime
seminar for judges would now be held every year.
the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, also said that the maritime
seminar for judges would now be held every year.
Amaechi made the
promise as a follow-up to the request by the former Head of State, Chief Ernest
Shonekan who said that the seminar for judges should be a yearly event because
of its importance for the industry and the judiciary.
promise as a follow-up to the request by the former Head of State, Chief Ernest
Shonekan who said that the seminar for judges should be a yearly event because
of its importance for the industry and the judiciary.
He said that the
main objective of having maritime seminar for judges was to equip the judges
and justices of Superior Courts of record as well as relevant stakeholders in
the maritime industry with the basic contemporary knowledge of the complex and
dynamic subject of Admiralty Law and Practice as it affects the administration
of Justice in the country.
main objective of having maritime seminar for judges was to equip the judges
and justices of Superior Courts of record as well as relevant stakeholders in
the maritime industry with the basic contemporary knowledge of the complex and
dynamic subject of Admiralty Law and Practice as it affects the administration
of Justice in the country.
He said that the
importance of quick and efficient handling of maritime matters by the nation’s
courts cannot be overemphasized since in maritime commerce, time is money.
importance of quick and efficient handling of maritime matters by the nation’s
courts cannot be overemphasized since in maritime commerce, time is money.
He added that the
strategic partnership between the NSC and the National Judicial Institute
stemmed from the recognition of the need to specially equip the judicial
officers with the requisite knowledge to help facilitate expeditious
dispensation of justice in maritime causes in the courts.
strategic partnership between the NSC and the National Judicial Institute
stemmed from the recognition of the need to specially equip the judicial
officers with the requisite knowledge to help facilitate expeditious
dispensation of justice in maritime causes in the courts.
Shonekan who was
the Chairman of the occasion commended the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the
National Judicial Institute for the collaboration to organize the seminar,
describing the effort as invaluable capacity building programme for those in
legal profession, particularly those in the bench and the bar, who by the
demand of their profession must continue to update themselves on many areas of
human endeavour.
the Chairman of the occasion commended the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the
National Judicial Institute for the collaboration to organize the seminar,
describing the effort as invaluable capacity building programme for those in
legal profession, particularly those in the bench and the bar, who by the
demand of their profession must continue to update themselves on many areas of
human endeavour.
He called on the
two agencies to redouble their efforts to ensure the continuity of the seminar,
adding that the problem has been how to sustain good ideas.
two agencies to redouble their efforts to ensure the continuity of the seminar,
adding that the problem has been how to sustain good ideas.
“By organizing the
series of capacity building seminars, the judges, stakeholders and the economy
have benefitted from it,” he said.
series of capacity building seminars, the judges, stakeholders and the economy
have benefitted from it,” he said.
In his vote of
thanks, the Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, said the reform and
revitalization of the transport sector must be supported by sound, modern,
lucid and dynamic legal system, commending the Transportation Minister for the
support, particularly for the many intellectual endeavours.
thanks, the Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, said the reform and
revitalization of the transport sector must be supported by sound, modern,
lucid and dynamic legal system, commending the Transportation Minister for the
support, particularly for the many intellectual endeavours.
Bello said his
Council would carry out the directive of having a yearly maritime seminar for
judges.
Credit: Shipping Day
Council would carry out the directive of having a yearly maritime seminar for
judges.
Credit: Shipping Day
