Campus News

Abdulkadir seeks maritime reforms to curtail challenges of insecurity

By Festus Ogunyinka

An expert in International Maritime Law, from the Department of Private and Property Law, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulrazaq Owolabi Abdulkadir, has called for deliberate efforts by members of the international community to find workable solutions to challenges militating against what he called “maximum exploitation and exploration of the resources of the sea”.

Prof. Abdulkadir made this call last Thursday (May 8, 2025) while delivering the 280th Inaugural Lecture of the  University of Ilorin, titled ”Radicalism, Rascality and Resentment in the Ebb of Marine and Blue Economy” at the University Auditorium.       

The don described Blue Economy as one of the most trending concepts in the emerging global economy, which deserves proper attention of all.

Prof. Abdulkadir said, ”The economic activities of the marine are usually regarded as playing a pivotal role in severe hunger and poverty alleviation by providing  jobs and plethora of economic opportunities”.

According to Prof Abdulkadir, piracy, hijacking and other criminal activities militating against the blue economy had been traced to people’s resentment, which breeds radicalisation and rascality.

He said that ”radicalism, rascality and resentment are fundamentally rooted in what sociologists call relative deprivation, which means a feeling that one is unfairly disadvantaged compared to a relevant referent, thereby triggering the goal to retaliate”.

Prof. Abdulkadir, who decried the mind boggling activities of pirates and hijackers and their debilitating effects on the blue economy, suggested that relevant agencies should be empowered to examine and seize any substance, goods, vessels that are considered harmful to the Nigerian maritime domain.

He said that the call is important because it is clear that concerned agencies lack the power to execute some of its functions.

 The maritime law expert also called for legislative reforms, saying that there is a need to make some radical overhauling of our legal landscape affecting maritime business.

Some of these legal frameworks, according to Prof. Abdulkadir, are due for amendment as shippers or investors have taken advantage of some lacunae in the legal framework.

Calling for social and economic reforms, the Inaugural Lecturer said, ”To prevent or reduce radicalism, rascality and resentment in the exploration of maritime and blue economy, the following economic and social reforms are required: job creation and skill development, infrastructural development, protection of cultural heritage, and conflict resolution mechanism”.

According to the don, ”There is a need for the government to establish and adopt mechanisms that are acceptable and practicable to members of the coastal community in resolving grievances relating to the marine and blue economy”.

Prof. Abdulkadir also called on the government to minimise privatisation of security services. He said, ”The Nigerian Navy should rather be empowered to devise strategies to increase security surveillance, especially, concerning traditional security threat, while internal security should be the business of the Nigerian Police”

The Inaugural Lecturer insisted that resources capable of sustaining human means of livelihood are available at sea as he, however, observed that there are impediments militating against proper exploration of these natural resources for the benefit of mankind.

He also suggested the reduction of military involvement, insisting that good governance rather than militarisation would bring about peace and attendant development.

Prof. Abdulkadir also called for the proper reorientation of the Nigerian armed personnel like Marine Police and Naval officers ”to appreciate the onerous responsibility of upholding their integrity and oath of office in discharging their responsibilities”.

 He also called for proper and sustained war against corrupt practices as he said that they are generally responsible for some avoidable importation of arms, ammunitions and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Prof. Abdulkadir similarly recommended the amendment of the Cabotage Act 2003, designation of special court for shipping cases and enhancement of international maritime mobile satellite or digital selective calling equipment.

The Inaugural Lecture, which was delivered under the chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Mukhtar Etudaiye, was attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola; the Registar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla, and the Deans of the various Faculties.

Also in attendance were the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahaya Alebiosu, the Olupako of Share, Oba Olawale Haruna Ilufemiloye; the Kuliya of Ilorin, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN; the Shettima of Ilorin, Alhaji Saka Onimago and the National President of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union(IEDPU), Alhaji Abdulmumini Ayo Abdulmalik, as well as colleagues, friends, relations, students and mentees of the Inaugural Lecturer from far and near.