Speeches

International Bar Association Section On Energy, Environmental, Natural Resources And Infrastructure Law (SEERIL)

Jun 24, 2010 - It is my pleasure, as always to be in your midst again this morning. When I received the invitation to attend this conference, I thought to myself that the timing and indeed venue of this conference could not have been more appropriate.

In Lagos, we appreciate the importance of Energy and infrastructure especially as they relate to the environment. It was in view of this that we joined the rest of the world in the advocacy to increase awareness and knowledge in dealing with the challenges of climate change. In furtherance of this from 4th - 7th of May 2010, Lagos State hosted the second Lagos Climate Change Summit. The central theme of the summit was international effect of Climate Change and the need to Share best practices in mitigation of its adversity.

We aimed to encourage industries within the State to develop and implement an eco-efficient and sustainable strategy with emphasis on reducing energy use, material requirements and toxic dispersion.

We have therefore focussed and shall continue to focus our energy towards the realisation of a sub region with cleaner and affordable source of energy coupled with infrastructure of international standards. Of course, we are not unmindful of the inevitable disputes that arise from such ventures.

It is for this reason and the desire to make Lagos the arbitration hub of the West –Africa sub-region that we enacted the Lagos State Arbitration Law 2009 and in collaboration with our vibrant business and commercial sector, we also enacted a statute creating the Lagos Court of Arbitration.

As a coastal State in the Gulf of Guinea, we are following with keen interest the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of the State of Louisiana in the United States of America. Of particular concern to us is the effect of the spill on the ecosystem threatening hundreds of species of fish, birds and other wild life along the gulf coast as well as several generations of marine related businesses; small and big. The eventual resolution of issues relating to the spill will unavoidably involve the enforcement of rights and obligations between parties and remediation of grievances of which I believe the services of members of this audience would be required.

The importance of IBA to global issues cannot be over emphasised. In fact, with the incident on the Gulf of Mexico, the global campaign for alternative and cleaner sources of energy, conservation of the environment, proper management of natural resources and the significance of infrastructure to the socio-economic well being of any society, the IBA and this particular section becomes even more relevant. The quality of its members however leaves one in no doubt as to the competence and capability of this section in making its usual useful contribution to these issues and living up to its enormous universal responsibilities.

Energy and infrastructure clearly are critical success factors to the socio-economic development of any society. These sub sectors of the economy rest on a legal framework - sigificantly the allocation of obligations in contracts and other legal documents.

Naturally, in the perfomance of this sectors in any economy disputes will arise. The best way of resolving such disputes, I believe, is in part the reason for this conference.

I wish you all fruitful deliberations and I recommend that you find time to enjoy the now well established Nigerian hospitility.

It is on that note that I declare this conference open and once again welcome you all to Lagos.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Governor of Lagos State