By Sandra Chukwunyere
Abuja will once again be the centre of maritime legal discourse as the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, joins forces with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) to host the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges.
The three-day seminar will hold from Wednesday, July 22 to Friday, July 24, 2026, at the Ballroom of the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Abuja Continental Hotel (formerly Sheraton Hotel), Abuja, with daily sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The biennial event, which has become one of the most respected maritime legal gatherings in Africa, marks 31 years of sustained efforts to deepen judicial knowledge in maritime law and admiralty practice. Since its inception in 1995, the seminar has provided a platform for judges, legal practitioners and maritime stakeholders to exchange ideas on evolving legal issues affecting the shipping industry while promoting excellence in maritime adjudication.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, will chair this year’s seminar, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, will serve as Chief Host. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, will serve as Host.
Also expected are the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who will attend as Distinguished Guest of Honour; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, as Special Guest of Honour; and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, as Guest of Honour.
The seminar is designed to strengthen judicial capacity in the handling of maritime disputes while promoting consistency in the interpretation and application of maritime laws. It will also provide a platform for Justices, Judges, legal practitioners, maritime professionals, regulators, policymakers and academics to examine emerging trends, contemporary legal issues and global best practices in international maritime law and admiralty practice.
This year’s programme will feature presentations by distinguished jurists, scholars, maritime law practitioners and international experts. Discussions will focus on the Admiralty Jurisdiction (Procedure) Rules, 2023 and their impact on maritime adjudication; ship mortgages in Nigeria and the role of the International Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships in using vessels as security for finance and maritime claims; liability, causation and proof in maritime cargo claims under Nigeria’s port concession regime; the alignment of Nigeria’s maritime dispute resolution framework with global arbitration and hybrid justice practices; and the legal characterisation and risk allocation of demurrage, detention and storage charges.
The seminar is expected to attract Chief Justices from The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Sierra Leone, alongside judges from their respective judiciaries, underscoring its growing regional significance and international stature.
Participants will also include Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, Judges of the Federal and State High Courts, legal advisers, in-house counsel, maritime law practitioners, academics, regulators and other stakeholders committed to strengthening maritime justice, enhancing the efficiency of maritime dispute resolution, and supporting the continued growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector and the blue economy.
