Committee hails Senate progress on Coast Guard bill
The Provisional Committee for the Establishment of the Nigeria Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has commended the Senate for advancing the Nigeria Coast Guard Establishment Bill, describing the move as a major step towards strengthening the country’s maritime governance.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, the committee quoted its Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, Capt. Noah Ichaba, as applauding the progress made by the bill in the National Assembly.
Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
The Provisional Committee for the Establishment of the Nigeria Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has commended the Senate for advancing the Nigeria Coast Guard Establishment Bill, describing the move as a major step towards strengthening the country’s maritime governance.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, the committee quoted its Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, Capt. Noah Ichaba, as applauding the progress made by the bill in the National Assembly.
According to the committee, the bill has passed key legislative stages and now awaits final consideration by the Senate.
It noted that the Senate postponed deliberation on the report of its Committee on Marine Transport to allow further consultations on the proposed Coast Guard’s roles, funding and relationship with the Nigerian Navy and the Marine Police.
The committee said the decision demonstrated the Senate’s commitment to enacting a comprehensive law that would strengthen maritime security without creating overlapping institutional responsibilities.
However, it urged lawmakers to conclude the legislative process without delay, stressing that the proposed Nigeria Coast Guard is critical to safeguarding the nation’s maritime assets and unlocking the full potential of the blue economy.
Ichaba said that although the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, 2019 provides a legal framework for combating piracy, Nigeria still requires a dedicated institution to enforce maritime laws effectively.
He explained that the proposed Coast Guard would operate as a specialised civilian maritime law enforcement agency responsible for search and rescue operations, fisheries enforcement, marine environmental protection and other non-military maritime security functions.
According to him, this would enable the Nigerian Navy to concentrate on its constitutional defence responsibilities while improving overall maritime governance.
Ichaba added that the proposed legislation would enhance inter-agency collaboration, improve maritime safety and strengthen efforts to combat illegal fishing, marine pollution and transnational maritime crimes.
He said improved maritime security would also create a safer environment for investment and accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s blue economy.
The committee recalled that it wrote to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other lawmakers in July 2023, urging the National Assembly to expedite consideration of the bill.
It noted that the bill, sponsored by Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun, passed second reading on 15 October 2024 before being referred to the Senate Committee on Marine Transport.
According to the committee, the proposed legislation also received broad stakeholder support during its public hearing before the committee submitted its report to the Senate.
The PC-NCG expressed confidence that the remaining legislative processes would be concluded promptly, paving the way for the establishment of the Nigeria Coast Guard.
The committee’s statement followed the Senate’s deliberation on the bill on Thursday and its subsequent referral to the Senate Committee on Marine Transport for further legislative consideration.
