The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), has announced plans to host the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges from July 22nd to 24th 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen judicial capacity in maritime law and Admiralty practices.
The three-day event organised under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, will take place at the Ball Room, Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Abuja Continental Hotel Abuja from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily.
This 2026 edition of the International Maritime Seminar for Judges marks 31 years of strengthening judicial capacity in maritime law and admiralty practice in Nigeria. Established in 1995, the flagship capacity-building programme has become the premier event on Nigeria’s maritime calendar.
According to the NSC, the event will be held under the distinguished chairmanship of Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, will serve as Chief Host, while Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Minister, Federal Territory, Abuja, will serve as the Host.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, will attend as the Distinguished Guest of Honour while the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, will serve as the Special Guest of Honour. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, will serve as the Guest of Honour at the event.
The biennial seminar provides a strategic platform for Justices, Judges, legal practitioners, maritime experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to examine emerging trends, contemporary legal issues, and global best practices in international maritime law and admiralty practice.
It is also designed to strengthen judicial capacity and promote efficient, consistent, and commercially responsive adjudication of maritime disputes in Nigeria and across the region.
This year’s event will feature presentations by eminent jurists, renowned scholars, leading maritime law practitioners, and international experts on critical issues shaping the global maritime sector.
Topics scheduled for discussion include:
An Overview of the Admiralty Jurisdiction (Procedure) Rules, 2023: A Sine Qua Non for Maritime Adjudication,
The Ship as Security for Finance and Maritime Claims: An Overview of Ship Mortgages in Nigeria and the Role of the International Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships.
Others are Maritime Cargo Claims in the Age of Port Concession: Liability, Causation and Proof in Emerging Maritime Economies, Aligning Nigerian Maritime Dispute Resolution with Global Practice: Arbitration, Courts and the Future of Hybrid Justice as well as
Demurrage, Detention and Storage Charges: Legal Characterization, Risk Allocation and Global Best Practices.
The seminar is expected to host Chief Justices from The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, alongside Justices and Judges from their respective judiciaries, underscoring the programme’s growing regional significance and international stature.
Participants will include Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, Judges of the Federal and State High Courts, legal advisers, in-house counsel, maritime and legal practitioners, academics, regulators, and other stakeholders from across the maritime sector.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council said it remains committed to promoting excellence in maritime justice through sustained judicial engagement, knowledge sharing, and the advancement of legal frameworks that support trade facilitation, investment, and the growth of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
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