Shippers’ Council boss, Akutah harps on ADR for speedy resolution of maritime disputes
...as NBA honours him for his ideological style of leadership
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (ES/CEO) of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima has emphasised the adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) mechanism for speedy resolution of maritime cases
He also maintained that the dispute resolution method would help to reduce the cost of litigation in the sector.
He made the call on Thursday at the 10th Annual Law Week 2025 organised by the Nigerian Bar Association, Badagry Branch.
Akutah who was an honoree at the event themed Judicial Reputation in the Digital Age: Challenges and Solutions, harped on the importance of the alternative mechanism to save time and cost of litigation in the maritime sector.
He posted that the new reforms coming up in the Council would protect the businesses of investors even as they would attract more investors to the sector.
Speaking further, Akutah maintained that the court should be the last resort after other alternatives have been explored in resolving commercial matters
His words, “The issue of arbitration is very crucial in the maritime Sector having alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that will tackle maritime disputes
“Maritime disputes are time consuming and very costly and atimes the delay affect matters that is why alternative dispute resolution is very effective
“Over the years this has been advocated bit not much has been done yet but a lot is coming up. Even in the court reforms, you know we have the admiralty jurisdiction in the federal high court which fast tracks it’s process and even then, the upsetting factors in the administration processes
“The courts are there as the last resort when all other alternatives failed, you can approach because they are statutory institutions to resolve disputes but that doesn’t mean that individuals cannot resolve issues especially commercial issues where money, investments are involved.
Speaking earlier, he called on participants at the event to put in their best in all they are doing because according to him, his appointment as the CEO of Shippers’ Council was a surprise to him saying he was enjoying what he was doing at the Ministry of Justice before the appointment.
In his welcome address, the Badagry NBA Branch Chairman, L. A. Rashidi Esq while appreciating the participants at the event, said that annual event was aimed at members and non-members father to discuss contemporary legal issues in Nigeria and fine solutions to same.
He pointed out that the selection of Dr. Akutah as the year’s honoree was in tandem with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda saying the proactive and progressive ideological style of leadership of the honoree have been yielding positive results for shippers in Nigeria.
“Sir, nothing more earned you the special honour but your empirical records of service because NBA Badagry Branch has been strict in selecting anybody for this kind of honour and that is why we are publishing the 2nd Edition almost four years after the aforementioned 1st edition,” he submitted.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to deserving Nigerians at the event which includes; Dr. Pius Akutah, Hon. Babatunde Adande Hunpe, Executive Chairman, Badagry Local Government Area among other dignitaries.
