Lawyers need practical knowledge of maritime trade to resolve disputes effectively — Igbokwe

By Godwin Oritse

ABUJA — President of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA), Mr. Mike Igbokwe (SAN), has urged legal practitioners to deepen their understanding of maritime trade and commercial operations to effectively handle disputes arising in the sector.

Speaking at the ongoing International Maritime Seminar for Judges in Abuja, Igbokwe said the rapidly evolving global maritime industry requires lawyers to keep pace with emerging regulations, changing business practices, technological advancements, environmental obligations and increasingly complex risk profiles.

According to him, developments in the maritime sector now affect every aspect of the industry, including shipping, ports, terminals, cargo, finance, insurance, regulation and dispute resolution, creating both new responsibilities and opportunities for stakeholders.

“Across the world, maritime trade is being reshaped by new regulations, shifting commercial practices, disruptive technologies, environmental obligations and increasingly complex risk profiles,” he said.

“These developments affect ships, ports, terminals, cargo, finance, insurance, regulation, dispute resolution and the daily decisions of maritime businesses. They create new responsibilities, but they also open new opportunities for shipowners, terminal operators, financiers, insurers, regulators, ports, cargo interests and the lawyers who advise them.”

Igbokwe said the changing dynamics of the industry make it imperative for lawyers and other stakeholders to move beyond theoretical knowledge and acquire a practical understanding of maritime transactions.

He noted that with continuing supply chain disruptions, growing concerns over port efficiency, maritime security and trade facilitation, as well as emerging opportunities in the blue economy, legal practitioners must understand how contracts, insurance, trade finance, port operations, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution function in practice.

According to him, such knowledge is essential to supporting national economic growth, boosting investor confidence and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global trade.

“When we look across generations—from the wisdom of the past, through the demands of the present, and into the possibilities of the future—we must acknowledge one truth: the rules of the maritime game are changing,” he said.

“If we do not understand those changes, respond to them and help shape them, we risk being left behind. Our duty is therefore clear. We must draw strength from the experience of those who came before us, confront today’s realities with competence and courage, and prepare intelligently for the future of maritime law practice and the maritime industry.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also described maritime transport as the lifeline of global trade, stressing that an efficient legal framework and speedy resolution of maritime disputes are critical factors in attracting foreign investment.

He noted that prospective maritime investors assess the strength of a country’s legal and regulatory framework, as well as the ability of its courts to resolve commercial disputes promptly before committing investments.

According to Igbokwe, the timely determination of maritime cases is particularly important because such disputes often involve vessels, cargoes and other assets worth substantial sums of money.

The post Lawyers need practical knowledge of maritime trade to resolve disputes effectively — Igbokwe appeared first on Vanguard News.