Nigeria is set to host Chief Justices from five African countries as the country stages the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges, in a major gathering aimed at strengthening judicial expertise and cooperation on maritime law across the continent.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), will host the landmark seminar from Wednesday, July 22, to Friday, July 24, 2026, at the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Abuja Continental Hotel, under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Chief Justices from The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Sierra Leone are expected to attend the event alongside their Nigerian counterparts, giving the 31st anniversary edition added international significance.
Since its inception in 1995, the biennial seminar has grown into a flagship event on Nigeria’s maritime calendar, helping to deepen judicial knowledge of maritime law and admiralty practice while providing a strategic platform for judges, legal experts and industry stakeholders to examine emerging challenges in international maritime commerce.
The high-profile event is expected to bring together senior government and judicial leaders, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, CON, who will serve as chairman; the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, as chief host; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON; and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, CON.
Running daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the seminar will feature presentations by internationally recognised scholars and maritime experts.
Discussions will focus on critical issues shaping the future of maritime justice, including admiralty jurisdiction and a review of the 2023 Procedure Rules; ship finance, including ship mortgages and the International Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships; cargo liability in the era of port concessions; dispute resolution and the alignment of Nigerian practice with global standards through arbitration and hybrid justice; as well as the legal characterisation and allocation of risks relating to demurrage and storage charges.
The NSC said the sustained engagement underscores its commitment to strengthening the legal framework underpinning trade facilitation, investment and the growth of Nigeria’s emerging marine and blue economy.