Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi, says alternate dispute resolution will enhance the growth of the maritime sector. A statement issued by NIMASA in Lagos said that Akpobolokemi made the observation during a visit of a delegation of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN).
Akpobolokemi lamented the pace at which maritime disputes were being adjudicated, adding that maritime cases lingered for decades in courts to the detriment of the operators. The director-general assured stakeholders of the agency’s commitment towards providing enabling environment for maritime arbitration to thrive as dispute resolution mechanism.
“For the maritime sector, which is an international industry, arbitration has proven to be an effective tool for dispute resolution. We at NIMASA are committed to ensuring that Nigeria embraces this trend to fast track the growth of the Nigerian maritime sector,” Akpobolokemi said.
The President of MAAN, Dr Omogbai Omo-Eboh, commended the director-general for his efforts in repositioning the agency in line with its primary role of developing the maritime sector.
Omo-Eboh pledged that the association would work closely with the agency to resolve issues relating to the progress of the maritime sector. He said that the Nigerian judicial system had challenges in adjudicating maritime issues.
“In order to continue to maintain the role of Nigeria as the lead maritime nation in Africa, Nigeria needs the arbitrators. Omo-Eboh said it was better to set up an arbitration centre in Nigeria than the current practice of travelling to New York, Singapore and other countries. He described the current practice as a drain on the nation’s foreign exchange resources.
