Funso OLOJO, Editor

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has pledged to strengthen its partnership with the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to enhance safety and reduce the incidence of boat accidents across the country’s inland waterways.

The commitment was made by the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Malam Umar Yusuf Girei, when he received the Director-General of NSIB, Captain Alex Sabundu Badeh Jnr., during a courtesy visit to the NIWA headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Tuesday, July 21st, 2026.

Girei said the renewed collaboration would focus on information sharing, joint operations and closer institutional cooperation aimed at addressing the persistent challenge of boat mishaps on Nigeria’s waterways.

He stressed that effective collaboration among relevant agencies is essential to improving navigation safety and protecting lives and property.

“NIWA is dedicated to strengthening partnerships with sister agencies to improve safety standards and enforce regulations for safer water transportation in Nigeria,” he said.

The Acting Managing Director assured the NSIB of NIWA’s readiness to provide relevant information, technical expertise and operational support to facilitate prompt investigation of marine incidents and the implementation of preventive measures to minimise future accidents.

In his remarks, the Director-General of NSIB, Captain Alex Sabundu Badeh Jnr., said the visit was intended to reinforce the existing relationship between the two agencies and identify new areas of collaboration in accident investigation, data sharing and the promotion of safety standards.

The meeting underscores the growing efforts by both agencies to improve safety oversight on Nigeria’s inland waterways amid recurring boat accidents, with greater emphasis on coordinated investigations, information exchange and proactive measures to prevent future tragedies.

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has called on Nigeria’s judiciary to prepare for a new wave of complex maritime disputes arising from autonomous vessels, digital shipping systems and the global transition to cleaner maritime transport.

Oyetola said the rapid evolution of maritime technology is creating unprecedented legal challenges relating to liability, navigational responsibility, insurance, collision regulations and the allocation of responsibility when autonomous ships or their systems fail.

The Minister made the call while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges, jointly organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026.

He noted that the increasing digitalisation of global shipping through electronic bills of lading, blockchain-enabled cargo documentation and digital freight contracts is reshaping international commerce while raising fresh evidentiary, contractual and jurisdictional questions.

“The prospect of vessels operating with limited or no human crews raises fundamental questions concerning liability, navigational responsibility, insurance, collision regulations, and the allocation of legal responsibility when technology fails,” Oyetola said.

He added that the growing international drive towards maritime decarbonisation and environmental sustainability would also generate more disputes over environmental liability, pollution damage, regulatory enforcement and compliance with evolving international standards.

According to him, judges handling such matters must combine sound legal reasoning with scientific understanding and an appreciation of emerging international maritime jurisprudence.

Oyetola stressed that an efficient and predictable system for resolving maritime disputes through litigation and arbitration is critical to positioning Nigeria as Africa’s leading maritime hub.

“Every judgment delivered in a maritime matter sends a powerful message—not only to the litigants before the court, but also to international investors, shipowners, financiers, insurers, cargo interests and seafarers across the world,” he said.

“A predictable, well-reasoned and internationally informed judiciary is itself an instrument of economic competitiveness.

“It lowers transaction costs, enhances commercial confidence, encourages parties to choose Nigerian courts and arbitration centres, and reinforces Nigeria’s reputation as a credible destination for maritime investment.”

The Minister disclosed that the Federal Government would continue to strengthen specialised maritime divisions within the Federal High Court, align domestic legislation with current international maritime conventions and promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, particularly maritime arbitration.

He described judicial excellence as a strategic economic asset, saying investments in judicial capacity are investments in Nigeria’s future competitiveness within the global maritime economy.

Highlighting recent achievements in the sector, Oyetola said the Federal Government had secured a £746 million financing agreement with the United Kingdom for the modernisation of the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.

He also revealed that the long-awaited disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) would enable Nigerian shipowners to acquire vessels, expand participation in coastal shipping and create an estimated 30,000 jobs.

According to him, Nigeria has now recorded four consecutive years without piracy in its territorial waters through the Deep Blue Project, while maritime agencies collectively generated more than ₦1.8 trillion in 2025.

He also noted that domestic fish production has increased from about 1.1 million metric tonnes to 1.4 million metric tonnes.

The Minister observed that the continued expansion of offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed resources, coastal tourism and other blue economy sectors would inevitably lead to more disputes involving investors, regulators, host communities and commercial operators.

“The marine and blue economy cannot flourish in a legal vacuum,” Oyetola stated, adding that Nigeria needs courts with “the courage to uphold the rule of law, the wisdom to balance the legitimate interests of commerce with the demands of justice, and the expertise to interpret and apply increasingly sophisticated international maritime legal instruments.”

Speaking as Chairman of the occasion, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, underscored the strategic importance of the maritime sector to Nigeria’s economy and called for the speedy dispensation of admiralty justice.

He warned that delays in resolving maritime disputes could negatively affect trade, shipping, investment, port operations and the broader economy, stressing that timely dispute resolution is essential to sustaining investor confidence and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness as a regional maritime hub.

Akume also urged government agencies to work collaboratively rather than in isolation, noting that the complex nature of the marine and blue economy demands effective inter-agency coordination.

He assured participants of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening cooperation among relevant institutions to improve trade facilitation, port efficiency and maritime operations.

Declaring the seminar open, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, described the maritime sector as a critical driver of international trade, economic growth, employment and national revenue.

She emphasised that maritime disputes are often complex, time-sensitive and cross-border in nature, warning that delays in adjudication can disrupt commercial activities, increase costs and undermine investor confidence.

The Chief Justice called for a responsive, efficient and specialised admiralty justice system capable of resolving maritime disputes promptly, while also stressing the importance of cross-border judicial cooperation given the inherently international character of maritime commerce.

She described the seminar as an important platform for knowledge sharing, professional engagement and strengthening institutional capacity in maritime law.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to providing the legislative framework necessary for the growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector.

He noted that disruptions in maritime trade have far-reaching consequences for supply chains, industrial production, prices of goods and overall economic growth, assuring participants that the House would continue to enact relevant legislation and exercise effective oversight to support the sector.

The seminar attracted Chief Justices from The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Sierra Leone, alongside Justices of Nigeria’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, Federal and State High Court Judges, legal scholars, arbitrators and maritime law practitioners.
The three-day seminar runs from July 22 to July 24, 2026, in Abuja.

Funso OLOJO, Editor 

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) have agreed to deepen institutional collaboration to enhance maritime safety, security and marine casualty investigations in Nigeria.

The commitment was made when the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, received the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NSIB, Captain Alex Sabundu Badeh Jnr., during a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Mobereola said NIMASA recognises the strategic role of the NSIB in promoting transportation safety and stressed that stronger collaboration between both agencies is essential to improving safety within Nigeria’s maritime domain.

He said effective maritime safety requires commitment, practical cooperation and institutional frameworks capable of delivering sustainable results.

“Our shared responsibility is to build a maritime sector that operates on global best practices while protecting lives, vessels and the marine environment. Ultimately, our collective goal is to contribute to making Nigeria greater through stronger institutions and effective inter-agency cooperation,” Mobereola stated.

The NIMASA boss added that the agency is committed to working closely with the NSIB to build a partnership that would strengthen Nigeria’s maritime safety architecture and deliver lasting value to the industry.

He noted that the initiative aligns with the vision of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, whose emphasis on inter-agency collaboration continues to support the Federal Government’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda.

Earlier, Captain Badeh described collaboration between the two agencies as vital to improving transportation safety and preventing future marine casualties.

According to him, although both organisations have distinct statutory mandates, they share the common objective of protecting lives, property and the marine environment through effective safety systems.

“Our mandates are different, but our destination is the same—a safer and more resilient maritime sector for Nigeria. Safety is most effective when institutions work together, sharing information, expertise and best practices.

“A stronger partnership between the NSIB and NIMASA will enhance marine casualty investigations, strengthen preventive measures and ensure that lessons learned translate into safer operations across the maritime industry,” he said.

Captain Badeh identified key areas of cooperation to include marine casualty notification, emergency response coordination, preservation of evidence, information sharing, technical support, capacity building and the implementation of safety recommendations.
He added that formalising the partnership would further strengthen Nigeria’s compliance with international maritime safety standards.
As part of the agreement, both agencies resolved to immediately establish technical committees to develop the framework for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and draft the Terms of Reference that will guide cooperation in information sharing, marine casualty investigations, capacity development and implementation of safety recommendations.
The collaboration is expected to provide a structured framework for institutional cooperation, reinforce Nigeria’s compliance with international maritime obligations and further strengthen the country’s maritime safety regime.
NIMASA said the partnership reflects its commitment to leveraging strategic collaborations with national and international stakeholders to improve maritime safety and security, enhance regulatory efficiency and support the Federal Government’s vision of building a globally competitive and sustainable blue economy.