Minister Seeks National Assembly’s Support to Establish National Coast Guard

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called on the National Assembly to support the bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Coast Guard to enhance economic growth, maritime safety, and sustainable marine resource development.

The Minister made the plea during a public hearing with lawmakers to seek the opinion of Stakeholders on the bill in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Oyetola said the establishment of a National Coast Guard to support the sustainable development of the Marine and Blue Economy sector is quite essential.

“It is a cardinal objective of the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is therefore pleased to applaud the initiators of this Bill and the entire National Assembly, particularly this esteemed Senate, for this noble move and its dedication to Nigeria blue economy. The ministry expresses its support and endorsement of the proposed Bill and strongly recommends that the Bill be given objective consideration.”

It is estimated that Nigeria has a vast coastline of 853 kilometers, including 10,000 kilometers of inland waterways. It is also blessed with rich and diverse marine resources.

The exploitation of marine and blue economy potentials usually comes with inevitable consequences that necessitate special institutional arrangements to guarantee safety and conservation.

“The existential threat from human activities includes pollution, unregulated coastal development, overfishing, and unsustainable exploitation of marine resources, among others. It must be emphasized that the protection and sustainable use of marine ecosystems is a vital pathway for national development. It is, therefore, compelling to preserve these endowments and guarantee sustainable development.”

Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun revealed that the essence of the public hearing is to seek the opinion of the Stakeholders and to critically look at the importance of the agency in terms of security and water safety.

Senator Wasiu said the establishment of the Coast Guard will promote inter-agency synergy between other security agencies to combat the challenge of criminal activities in Nigeria and beyond.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Adams Oshomole, said at a time when Nigeria is struggling with many challenges to pay salaries and fund capital projects, the establishment of any agency would only increase the cost of governance.

In his presentation, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechugkwu, represented by Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Navy, revealed that the establishment of Nigeria Coast Guard may have no relevance to the national security or protection of Marine waterways.

“There is no proof that the Nigerian Navy fails to discharge its responsibilities in securing the coastal ways, prevention of oil theft, and protection of the country waterways border,” he said.

Other participants include Lawyers, academics, and security experts.

The public hearing ended without a substantive agreement between the two parties that supported the bill and the other party that saw the bill as an avenue that could lead to the redundancy of the Nigerian Navy, leading to an adjournment.

The bill, if endorsed by the lawmakers, will give the federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy the power to recruit personnel, provide all the necessary equipment and facilities to protect the country’s waterways, and promote security.