The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged the judiciary to prepare for a new wave of maritime disputes driven by autonomous ships, digital shipping and the global transition to cleaner maritime transport.
Speaking at the opening of the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges in Abuja, Oyetola said rapid advances in maritime technology were creating complex legal questions that would require judges to develop expertise in emerging areas of maritime law.
“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,” the minister said.
Oyetola said the increasing use of electronic bills of lading, blockchain-enabled cargo documentation and digital freight contracts is transforming global commerce while creating “new evidentiary, contractual and jurisdictional challenges.
He added that the global push for maritime decarbonisation would generate more disputes over environmental liability, pollution damage, regulatory enforcement and compliance with evolving international standards.
According to him, judges must approach such cases with “sound legal reasoning, scientific understanding, and awareness of emerging international jurisprudence.”
The minister stressed that strengthening litigation and arbitration mechanisms would position Nigeria as Africa’s leading maritime hub, noting that judicial decisions significantly influence investors’ confidence.
“Every judgement delivered in a maritime matter sends a powerful message… A predictable, well-reasoned, and internationally informed judiciary is itself an instrument of economic competitiveness,” he said.
Read Also: Nigeria, The Gambia Strengthen Maritime Cooperation
Oyetola said the Federal Government would support specialised maritime divisions within the Federal High Court, align domestic laws with international maritime conventions and promote maritime arbitration.
He also highlighted ongoing reforms in the sector, including a £746 million financing agreement with the United Kingdom to modernise the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports and the planned disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund to support indigenous shipowners and create about 30,000 jobs.
The minister said Nigeria had maintained four consecutive years without piracy in its territorial waters through the Deep Blue Project, while maritime agencies generated over ₦1.8 trillion in 2025.
He added that domestic fish production had increased from about 1.1 million metric tonnes to 1.4 million metric tonnes.
“The marine and blue economy cannot flourish in a legal vacuum,” Oyetola said, stressing the need for courts with the expertise to interpret increasingly sophisticated international maritime legal instruments.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the Deputy Chief Whip, Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka, also highlighted the strategic importance of the maritime sector to national and global economies.
He noted that disruptions in maritime trade could reverberate across national economies, affecting supply chains, the availability and cost of goods, industrial production and economic growth.
He assured participants that the House of Representatives would continue to enact appropriate legislation and diligently perform its oversight functions to support the development of the maritime sector.
The seminar was organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI).
The seminar attracted chief justices from The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Sierra Leone, alongside Nigerian judicial officers, legal scholars, arbitrators and maritime law practitioners.
