Lawyers specialising in maritime law push for tighter regulations in New South Wales

The Nigerian Maritime Law Association, NMLA, is advocating for a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework to guarantee the successful implementation of the National Single Window, NSW, project in Nigeria, which aims to enhance operational efficiency through streamlined cargo clearance processes, increased transparency in regulatory procedures, and improved coordination among government agencies involved in maritime trade and port operations.

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At the 4th Breakfast meeting of the NMLA, Mr. Mike Igbokwe, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and President of the association, emphasized that the National Single Window initiative marks a significant shift towards digitalization in the maritime sector, poised to promote ease of doing business, reduce bottlenecks at ports, and bolster Nigeria's trade competitiveness.

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The meeting's theme, "Regulatory Reforms and the National Single Window (NSW) Project," was the focus of Igbokwe's remarks, as he noted that Nigeria's maritime sector is characterized by multiple regulatory agencies with overlapping responsibilities, resulting in duplication of functions, efforts, and costs.

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He further observed that traditional processes in the sector remain fragmented and largely manual, leading to delays in cargo clearance, increased costs of doing business, rising inflation, and higher prices of imported raw materials and manufactured goods.

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According to Igbokwe, the National Single Window project will benefit NMLA members, including maritime lawyers and IT experts, as it will necessitate updates to regulatory frameworks, data governance, and cybersecurity considerations, as well as contractual and liability adjustments in trade transactions and greater reliance on electronic records and systems.

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Igbokwe stated that Nigeria's lack of progress in implementing regulatory frameworks is not due to a lack of good legislation, but rather a lack of political will and determination to implement, monitor, and supervise the laws.

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The National Single Window Project, he believes, represents a transformative regulatory reform capable of modernizing Nigeria's trade and maritime sector, and if effectively implemented, it can significantly improve efficiency, transparency, revenue generation, and ease of doing business.

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However, Igbokwe cautioned that the project's success will depend not only on technology, but also on strong political will, institutional cooperation, legal reforms, and sustained stakeholder engagement.