Maritime
Nigerian Shippers Council Set To Ratify Rotterdam Rules
LAGOS: In order to include Nigeria as well as other African nations among countries that are already signatories to the Rotterdam Rules, the Nigerian Shippers Council has appealed to the Nigerian Maritime Law Association to assist the council in moving for the ratification of the convention in Nigeria, even as it says that steps are already being taken to ensure that the convention is given a regional flavor.
The Rotterdam Rules is a United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods by Sea, it is also a treaty comprising international rules that revises the legal and political framework for maritime carriage of goods, this is to extend and modernize international rules already in existence and achieve uniformity of admiralty law in the field of maritime carriage.
The Nigerian Shippers Council has however declared its intention of calling for a meeting of the rest African countries so as to come out with a draft instrument which will be the basis for Nigeria’s’ participation in the ratification of the all important convention.
This declaration came to the fore when top members of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association led by its president, Mr. Louis Mbanefo paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the Council, Capt Adamu Biu at his office in Lagos yesterday.
Speaking on behalf of the executive secretary, the Director of Legal Services of the council, Mr. Hassan Bello commended the association for haven contributed immensely in the past to the vigorous process of ensuring that important international conventions are ratified successfully in Nigeria.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to be a part of the new Rotterdam rules even as he appealed to the association to give the council the needed advice and corporation on how to ensure that the law is domesticated in Nigeria.
“We have already discussed with some countries like Ghana and Niger and Senegal, but in the council it is hoped that the Nigerian Maritime Law Association will provide the intellectual contribution as they have always done to see that this regional approach is harnessed so that we can have meaningful contributions”
“It is not sufficient for Nigeria to ratify while other African countries did not; the most important thing is for us to look at how the treaty was negotiated with African solidarity,
In few months to come, we are going to work with the National assembly, we are also going to incorporate the association and seek for their advice on how to go through it” Biu stated.
Responding, the president of the association, Mr. Louis Mbanifo expressed the readiness of the group in working with the National Assembly on the Rotterdam Rules and also assured that the association is going to assist the Shippers Council by explaining the technicalities of the rules to Nigerians and what the country stands to gain.
Speaking earlier, he commended the Nigerian Shippers Council over the consistent training of Nigerian lawyers through the continued organization of the yearly seminar for Judges.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has deposited three Instruments of Accession to IMO Conventions signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the global body.
He did so on Tuesday, at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which acts as the repository for these conventions.
This move, coming a few weeks after Nigeria declared its intention to contest election for a seat on the IMO Council, is expected to enhance Nigeria’s maritime governance and align its practices with international standards, promoting maritime safety, security, and environmental protection.
Shortly after the presentation ceremonies, Oyetola informed the IMO Secretary General, Arsenio Dominguez, of the President’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria aligns with international maritime standards regarding maritime safety, security, and sustainable marine practices.
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He also called on the IMO to extend technical support to Nigeria.
In his words, “These instruments, duly acceded by His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, signify Nigeria’s continued commitment to aligning with international maritime standards, ensuring maritime safety and security, and promoting sustainable marine practices.
“We hereby request tailored technical cooperation under the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) to enhance Nigeria’s compliance with IMO conventions and improve our maritime governance and implementation of the instruments we submitted today.”
On his part, Dominguez, acknowledged with appreciation the formal deposition of the Instruments of Accession, stating that it underscores Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to aligning with global maritime standards.
“I congratulate Nigeria for its exceptional efforts in acceding to these six critical IMO instruments. I encourage continued momentum by securing presidential assent to additional key conventions. We at the IMO remains fully committed to supporting Nigeria through technical cooperation and capacity-building initiatives to ensure the successful implementation of these instruments,” he stated.
The instruments Oyetola handed over to Dominguez include the instrument of accession to the 2005 Protocol to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (SUA Protocol 2005), the instrument of accession to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), and the instrument of accession to the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Pollution by Substances Other Than Oil (Intervention Protocol 1973).
It was gathered that three other Instruments of Accession signed by President Tinubu are undergoing further steps to complete the processes for their deposit.
Funds accrued under the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) are intact and currently held with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the Single Treasury Account (TSA).
This assertion was made by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday.
The clarification became necessary to address “a misleading publication alleging that funds have disappeared from the CVFF account”.
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The statement reads, in part, “The report of a missing money is both misleading and false.
“For the record, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, securely held in the NIMASA account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), remains intact. There has been no disappearance of funds, and no illegal transactions, as the article suggests. This misinformation is a figment of the authors imagination, aimed at undermining NIMASA’s integrity, and mislead the public about the Agency’s operations.
“The Management of NIMASA will ensure that the CVFF is utilised in line with its statutory purpose. NIMASA Director General, Dr Mobereola has assured stakeholders of the safety of funds under the CVFF.”
The statement cited the DG thus, “Let us be clear that the CVFF account at the Central Bank of Nigeria is safe, intact, and secure. We at NIMASA will continue to manage it with the utmost responsibility, and there are no irregularities or illegal activities surrounding the funds. I urge the public to disregard this false narrative and to continue trusting the Agency’s ability to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s maritime sector”.
It was gathered that the CVFF is a fund established under section 42 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 to promote the development of indigenous ship acquisition capacity and to provide credit facilities to local maritime operators.
The NIMASA, assured of its commitment “to transparency, accountability, and the advancement of Nigeria’s maritime sector.”
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo appears eager to deliver the dividends of democracy to his constituents.
This is discernible from the frenzy of activities being witnessed in his first few days on the job, including dissolution of boards, constitution of investigative panels, flagging off of infrastructure projects, among others.
In the bid to address the perennial road traffic congestion negatively impacting economic and social activities in Benin City, the state capital, Gov Okpebholo on Wednesday flagged off the construction of a flyover bridge.
Biztellers reports that the flyover bridge around the popular Ramat Park in the city centre is the first of such in the history of Edo State.
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The Edo State Government made the disclosure in its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Wednesday.
It wrote, “Traffic decongestion: Gov Okpebholo flags off first flyover in Edo.
“Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo has flagged off the construction of a flyover bridge at Ramat Park, Benin City, the State Capital, as part of immediate efforts to reduce traffic congestion in the city.”
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