Admiralty law is key to maritime sector, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has said. Dakuku admitted that there can be no maritime sector without admiralty law and that every aspect of shipping is governed by one law or the other. He stated this when the Executive members of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA), led by its President, Mr. Luke Chidi Ilogu, SAN paid him a courtesy visit at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos.
Th e DG said that continuous cooperation amongst government bodies and relevant associations is critical to realising a robust maritime sector. Describing the association as central to the maritime activities, he said that the agency would be willing and ready to partner them adding that without active legal framework, there could be no maritime sector which is dependent on certain laws. “If there is a strategic partner we have without an iota of doubt, it is the Nigerian Maritime Law Association. In our industry, every stakeholder is aff ected by admiralty law.
“Right from vessel acquisition, those who pilot the vessels, sea men, those whose goods are carried by the vessels, all of us are subject to one maritime law or the other” Dakuku noted. Speaking, Ilogu commended the DG for his passion in making Nigeria’s maritime sector ranked high in the comity of maritime nations and assured of the continuous support of the body to ensure the Agency realize its mandate of repositioning NIMASA and by extension the entire sector. He also called on the Agency to take advantage of the competence and expertise of professionals in the association for the good of the industry and assured of their availability anytime they are called upon.
