“(This is a book written by) the primary leader of (the) crusade for the enactment of the Cabotage Act… (It is a) one-package book I will encourage all those concerned about the need to have Nigerians participate in Nigerian (shipping and) economy to buy…”

By Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, former Chief of Naval Staff during the public presentation of the book on 8/2/07 where he was Chairman.

     “(Mr. Igbokwe, SAN) is the father of Nigerian Cabotage Law just as Mrs. Mfon Usoro can be regarded as the mother of Nigerian Cabotage Law… In the absence of any other (book) written by a qualified expert like him, this book will serve as a standard for the training of maritime administration officials in Nigeria…”

By Malam Habib Aliyu, the Hon. Minister of State for Water Transportation and the representative of the Special Guest of Honour, President Olusegun Obasanjo at the public presentation of the book on 8/2/07.

“All relevant institutions should buy the book and see the importance of taking the commanding heights of our maritime industry…(Mr Igbokwe, SAN) we owe you, the country owes you, but we would implement what you have preached (in the book)…”

By Alhaji Bamanga Tukur,CON,Tafida Adamawa; Chairman, African Business Roundtable and the Chief Presenter at the public presentation of the book on 8/2/07.

“This is a book which is divided into 14 chapters comprising advocacy papers written by the author in support of the enactment of a cabotage law for Nigeria… The book is a collection of relevant materials and works …which the author had either presented at maritime fora or written for the purpose of the book. I must admit that at the material time, a lot of the papers contributed immensely not only in creating awareness in the minds of the public, maritime stakeholders and the law makers on what maritime cabotage was all about and its benefits at a time such people were unfamiliar with the subject.

In view of the paucity of books on cabotage law and trade generally and on Nigerian Maritime Cabotage law and policy in particular, the author’s efforts in belling the cat in this regards is commendable because the book would be found useful and informative not only by teachers and students of Nigerian Maritime Cabotage, but also other maritime stakeholders including shippers, ship operators, ship owners, ship insurers, seafarers, maritime administrators and all who have things to do with the maritime sector.

With the current thinking of the Federal Government about professionalizing the maritime sector and the recent release of the Cabotage (Bareboat Registration) Regulations and Cabotage (Detention of Ships) Regulations, 2006 and the commendable efforts of NAMASA on maritime safety, security and pollution prevention in Nigerian coastal waters, this book could not have come out at a better time than now. I therefore congratulate the author and commend the book to all.”

Excerpts from the Endorsement of the book written by Mrs. Mfon Ekong Usoro, Director-General, National Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NAMASA).  

“The book Nigerian Maritime Cabotage Policy and Law: The Case and Advocacy by one of the leading maritime practitioners in Nigeria sets out to inform the public and stakeholders on the subject. Beyond this, the book has capacity to provide a guide to both the old and the young maritime legal practitioners. In addition, it provides the requisite background information and advocacy which indeed culminated in the enactment of the Act. Not just these, the book also brings to the fore the imperatives of a legal regime for the cabotage industry  in Nigeria, it proffers solutions to both the present and potential problems of cabotage system and advocates a regional cabotage regime for the West African sub-region.

The author Mike Igbokwe Esq, SAN, … has by this publication broken new grounds. For this area of the law has not, probably until now, received much attention from the Nigerian academics and practitioners as well.

I am therefore, particularly proud to be associated with this effort. In my opinion, this book will be of immense assistance not only to members of the Bench, the Bar and the academia but also to the political class and those charged with policy formulation and implementation. I have no hesitation in recommending it to all and sundry.”

Excerpts from the Foreword of the book written by Hon. Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais,GCON, former Chief Justice of Nigeria.