Nigeria Ratifies 40 Conventions, Domesticates 19 International Laws
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside, Monday disclosed that Nigeria has been able ratify 40 conventions passed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Lawbour Organisation (ILO) covering maritime safety , labour and marine environment.
Dakuku who spoke in Lagos the occasion of the 8th strategic admiralty law seminar for judges explained however that the failure to implement and enforce the conventions has been affecting investments in the country.
He said that so far 19 of the conventions have been domesticated by way of regulation, adoptionor incorporation under the Merchant Shipping Act of 2007.
Dakuku said it has been a herculean task trying to sell Nigeria to the international community for investments, adding that in some cases the investors had raised the issue of uncertainty in dispensation of litigations and implementations of laws.
The DG said it was in this regard that the seminar titled “Strengthening Nigeria’s Admiralty Regime through Effective Implementation of International Maritime and Labour Instruments”, was imperative.
According to him, the seminar was mainly to create awareness among judges on the need for quick dispensation of maritime cases brought before them.
He told the judges, “Part of the objectives of hosting this seminar is to sensitise Judges on contemporary maritime law issues both within and outside the Nigeria jurisdiction, as shipping by its nature is a multi-jurisdictional enterprise.
“We are working with the Federal Ministry of Transportation under the auspices of an Inter-Ministerial Committee to ratify an additional six IMO conventions before the end of 2019 to ensure that Nigeria as an IMO member state fulfils its treaty obligation”.
About Post Author
