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The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), will convene the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges from July 22 to 24, 2026, in Abuja, bringing together top judicial officers, maritime experts and policymakers to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime legal framework and enhance dispute resolution.
The three-day seminar, organised under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, will take place at the Ballroom of the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Abuja Continental Hotel, with daily sessions scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This year’s edition marks 31 years of judicial capacity development in maritime law and admiralty practice, reinforcing the programme’s position as Nigeria’s foremost platform for advancing maritime jurisprudence and aligning judicial practice with international standards.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, will chair the event, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, will serve as Chief Host. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is the Host, while the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, will attend as Distinguished Guest of Honour.
Also expected are the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, alongside senior judicial officers, legal practitioners and maritime stakeholders.
The biennial seminar is designed to deepen judicial understanding of evolving maritime legal issues, promote consistency in the adjudication of admiralty matters, and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to resolve complex commercial disputes efficiently.
Participants will examine key developments in maritime law, including the implementation of the Admiralty Jurisdiction (Procedure) Rules, 2023, ship mortgages and judicial sale of ships, cargo claims under Nigeria’s port concession regime, maritime arbitration, hybrid dispute resolution mechanisms, and the legal treatment of demurrage, detention and storage charges.
The programme will feature presentations by eminent jurists, leading maritime lawyers, scholars and international experts who will share perspectives on emerging legal trends shaping global shipping and maritime commerce.
In a demonstration of the seminar’s growing regional relevance, Chief Justices and judicial delegates from The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Sierra Leone are expected to participate, alongside Justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal High Court and State High Courts in Nigeria.
According to the Council, the seminar underscores its commitment to promoting excellence in maritime justice through continuous judicial engagement, knowledge sharing and the development of legal frameworks that support trade facilitation, investor confidence and the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
