APPRAISING MARITIME LAWS AND REGULATIONS: A CRITIQUE

Abstract

Nigeria continues to be a pivot of West Africa’s shipping activities owing to its strategic location on the coast.
Shipping is a vital part of most economies, especially Nigeria, as Nigeria imports and exports many items and the
most critical ones are oil and gas. The oil and gas sector are the stronghold of Nigeria’s economic, socio-political and
infrastructural development; thus, it is undeniable that shipping is critical to the economic development of Nigeria.
This has led to the active participation of Nigerians in the nap sub-sector culminating in the enactment of several
laws to regulate the activities of the maritime sector. This article takes a look at the legal and regulatory institutions
that protect the nation’s maritime sector. It further examined the institutions saddled with the responsibility of
overseeing the maritime industry, their functions and duties, comparative analysis of other jurisdictions. Some
recommendations were proffered. The research methodology employed in this paper is the doctrinal research
methodology which includes internet essays, journals consulting of primary and secondary sources of information.