The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has called on Nigeria’s judiciary to prepare for a new wave of legal disputes expected to emerge from autonomous ships, digital shipping systems and the global transition to cleaner maritime transport.
Speaking on Wednesday 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 specialised judicial expertise to resolve.
The seminar, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), brought together judges, legal scholars, arbitrators and maritime law experts from Nigeria and across Africa.
According to the minister, the emergence of autonomous vessels raises critical issues relating to liability, navigational responsibility, insurance and the allocation of legal responsibility when technology or automated systems fail.
He added that the increasing digitalisation of global shipping through electronic bills of lading, blockchain-enabled cargo documentation and digital freight contracts was transforming international commerce while introducing new evidentiary, contractual and jurisdictional challenges.
“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 also warned that the global push towards maritime decarbonisation would generate more disputes over environmental liability, pollution damage, regulatory compliance and evolving international standards, urging judges to build capacity in emerging areas of maritime jurisprudence.
Oyetola stressed that strengthening litigation and arbitration mechanisms for the speedy resolution of shipping disputes would position Nigeria as Africa’s leading maritime hub.
“Every judgment delivered in a maritime matter sends a powerful message not only to litigants but also to international investors, shipowners, financiers, insurers and cargo interests across the world,” he said.
He disclosed that the Federal Government would support the expansion of specialised maritime divisions within the Federal High Court, align Nigeria’s maritime laws with international conventions and strengthen maritime arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
The minister also highlighted recent achievements in the sector, revealing that Nigeria had secured a £746 million financing agreement with the United Kingdom to modernise the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.
He added that the planned disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) would enable indigenous shipowners to acquire vessels, expand coastal shipping operations and create an estimated 30,000 jobs.
According to him, Nigeria has maintained four consecutive years without piracy in its territorial waters through the Deep Blue Project, while maritime agencies generated over ₦1.8 trillion in revenue in 2025. He also said domestic fish production had increased from about 1.1 million metric tonnes to 1.4 million metric tonnes.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, emphasised the importance of timely admiralty justice, warning that delays in resolving maritime disputes could undermine trade, investment, port operations and Nigeria’s competitiveness.
He urged government institutions to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, noting that the complexity of the marine and blue economy required coordinated action to improve port efficiency and facilitate trade.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who declared the seminar open, described the maritime sector as a critical driver of economic growth, employment and international trade.
She stressed that maritime disputes are often cross-border and time-sensitive, making speedy and specialised adjudication essential to maintaining investor confidence and ensuring the smooth operation of the industry.
Justice Kekere-Ekun also called for stronger collaboration among courts, regulators and legal practitioners across jurisdictions to address the increasingly international nature of maritime commerce.
Representing the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, Deputy Chief Whip, Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka assured participants of the National Assembly’s commitment to enacting legislation and providing oversight to support the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The three-day seminar, which runs from July 22 to 24, has attracted chief justices from The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Sierra Leone, alongside Nigerian judicial officers, legal scholars and maritime law practitioners.
