The National Coordinator of Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders, Importers and Exporters Coalition (SNFFIEC) Chief Osita Chukwu has lamented seriously on the allocation of funds on the training of judges over the years by the Nigerian Shippers Council, labelled it is an economic waste.
Briefing journalists in his Apapa office recently in Lagos, Chief Chukwu furiously stated that training of judges should be under the purview of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), rather than the NSC, as he beckon on Federal Government to look into the issue, intervene and put a stop on the program.
He called on the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Barr. Pius Akutah, to suspend the annual International Maritime Seminar for Judges, warning that if they should proceed with the plans for 2026 seminar, his group, (SNFFIEC) will seek for legal action.
"Why are we conducting seminars for the Judges, they will lodge them two days or more at Nicon Hilton Hotels Abuja, Sheraton hotel, spend millions of naira on them while they spend only few hours with us, have they accommodated us in a hotel before?", Chief Chukwu queried.
Chukwu stated that despite all critics, the Nigerian Shippers Council is still moving on with their plans to host the 2026 workshop for Judges. According to Barr. Akutah, he said the workshop is essentially for equipping judges, training them on how to handle the evolving issues on maritime and blue economy law.
The group is set to petition the President, the National Assembly, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Attorney General of the Federation, demanding a probe into the Nigerian Shippers Council Budget and their activities, which the group claims are detrimental to the growth of Nigeria’s shipping sector.
"We call for probe on Shippers Council Budget, let them tell us how much is been given to NSC, how much is spent on administration, staff employment and welfare", the group demanded.
Chukwu categorically criticized the allocation of funds for Judges training and called on Barr. Akutah Pius to suspend the annual International Maritime Seminar for Judges and focus on the pressing issues affecting the shipping sector.
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