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| Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN |
Nigeria urgently needs to overhaul its policy; regulatory,
institutional and legal framework for the maritime sector, in order to have the
economy benefit from its huge maritime resources, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and prominent Maritime Lawyer, has advised.
institutional and legal framework for the maritime sector, in order to have the
economy benefit from its huge maritime resources, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and prominent Maritime Lawyer, has advised.
Agbakoba gave the advice while reviewing the vital role
of activating development law in economic reforms.
He highlighted the fact that development law must be a
part of economic reforms, considering that there is a strong link between
law, regulatory institutions, governance, economic development and national
welfare.
part of economic reforms, considering that there is a strong link between
law, regulatory institutions, governance, economic development and national
welfare.
According to Agbakoba, Nigeria’s maritime industry “is
estimated to be capable of generating seven trillion Naira annually and
creating over four million jobs over five years.”
estimated to be capable of generating seven trillion Naira annually and
creating over four million jobs over five years.”
He, however, said that for Nigeria to see that happen, beginning
with the six Inland Container Depots (ICDs), government needs to implement the
policy to make them serve their economic purpose.
with the six Inland Container Depots (ICDs), government needs to implement the
policy to make them serve their economic purpose.
He said: “We have 6 (Six) ICDS spread across the
geopolitical zones that can generate at least 15,000 jobs for different levels
of manpower.
geopolitical zones that can generate at least 15,000 jobs for different levels
of manpower.
“Due to the lack of infrastructure to support business
and operations by concessionaires, these depots have not been optimally
utilized.”
and operations by concessionaires, these depots have not been optimally
utilized.”
He noted that a lot of tidying-up must be done within
the legal framework to save revenue losses in the shipping sub-sector.
the legal framework to save revenue losses in the shipping sub-sector.
“Further to this is the need to review our cabotage
regime to stem capital flight and boost capacity for Nigeria’s Shipowners.
Despite the enactment of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003 Nigeria loses
an estimated 7 Trillion Naira in the shipping sector.
regime to stem capital flight and boost capacity for Nigeria’s Shipowners.
Despite the enactment of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003 Nigeria loses
an estimated 7 Trillion Naira in the shipping sector.
“Foreign vessels trade in violation of the Cabotage
regime. This is responsible for capital flight.
regime. This is responsible for capital flight.
“There is a need for immediate enactment of several
critical bills pending before the National Assembly. This would facilitate the
legal framework to move the maritime sector to the next level.
critical bills pending before the National Assembly. This would facilitate the
legal framework to move the maritime sector to the next level.
“Such bills as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the
Ports and Harbour Bill, Maritime Zones Bill, Ocean Bill etc. are yet to be
passed into law. There is also an urgent need to review the Nigerian Shipping
Policy of 1987,” Agbakoba said.
Ports and Harbour Bill, Maritime Zones Bill, Ocean Bill etc. are yet to be
passed into law. There is also an urgent need to review the Nigerian Shipping
Policy of 1987,” Agbakoba said.
He added that “It is argued that the Nigerian legal and
judicial framework is hopelessly outdated and needs an urgent review to meet
current challenges. Yet governments generally fail to link legal policy,
economic development and governance.”
judicial framework is hopelessly outdated and needs an urgent review to meet
current challenges. Yet governments generally fail to link legal policy,
economic development and governance.”
