Why Special Maritime Court is Crucial in Achieving Blue Economy – CNS Ogalla
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has called for the establishment of special courts to handle maritime crimes, aiming to expedite justice and deter illegal activities at sea.
According to Ogalla, these dedicated courts would streamline the justice process, ensuring more effective outcomes for law enforcement in maritime cases.
He made this call on Thursday at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), during the Faculty of Social Sciences’ 2024 Distinguished Annual Public Lecture, where he delivered a lecture titled “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Blue Economy Potentials: The Role of the Nigerian Navy.”
Ogalla highlighted that maritime crime cases referred to the police and various prosecuting agencies have often faced delays due to the heavy caseloads in general courts, affecting timely prosecution and resolution.
Ogalla noted that cases of maritime offences handed over to the police and various prosecuting agencies had suffered delays due to caseloads of general courts or caseloads of matters being treated by the various agencies.
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He said that the Blue Economy is crucial to the economic prosperity of Nigeria, particularly as our population grows and global supply chain becomes increasingly integrated.
Ogalla said: “However, this growth also brings a multidimensional increase in maritime crimes.
“The Nigerian Navy has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring a secure environment necessary to safeguard the nation’s Blue Economy potentials.
“However, continued success of these efforts will require increased support and collaboration from all stakeholders.”
The CNS also advocated more local community support in fighting crime in the Blue Economy, which entails all natural resources and transportation means within the maritime domain of the country.
He said the Nigerian Navy was involving more community engagement and outreach programmes, educational and health initiatives, special skills training workshops and positive partnership with stakeholders at the riverine communities.
In a remark, Prof Aloysius Okolie, the Vice-Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science Technology, who chaired the occasion, expressed appreciation to Ogalla for accepting to be the guest lecturer.
Okolie said that the present high rate of kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism, among others was a result of the breakdown of social contracts and moral values.
“One of the reasons of the present insecurity in the country is because some of the papetrators are not engaged in useful ventures as a result of the breakdown of social contracts and moral,” he said.
by PRNigeria
