Group unveils roadmap for ocean jobs, urges Tinubu to establish coast guard
The Provisional Committee for the Proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has unveiled a roadmap aimed at creating five million ocean-based jobs by 2035, while urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a Nigerian Coast Guard as a critical institution for achieving the country’s blue economy ambitions.
The committee conveyed its proposals in an open letter to the President following Nigeria’s commitments at the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) held in Mombasa, Kenya.
*President Tinubu
Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
The Provisional Committee for the Proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has unveiled a roadmap aimed at creating five million ocean-based jobs by 2035, while urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a Nigerian Coast Guard as a critical institution for achieving the country’s blue economy ambitions.
The committee conveyed its proposals in an open letter to the President following Nigeria’s commitments at the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) held in Mombasa, Kenya.
PC-NCG Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, Capt. Noah Ichaba described Nigeria’s pledge to create five million ocean-based jobs by 2035 as a bold commitment capable of unlocking the nation’s vast maritime potential.
He said the President’s declaration had renewed confidence within the maritime sector, adding that Nigeria’s future prosperity depends not only on its land resources but also on its oceans, inland waterways, fisheries, ports and coastal ecosystems.
While commending the Nigerian Navy and other maritime agencies for their contributions to national security, Ichaba argued that Nigeria still lacks a dedicated institution responsible for civil maritime law enforcement, environmental protection and emergency response.
“The missing link is the establishment of a Nigerian Coast Guard,” he said.
According to him, the committee’s roadmap provides a practical framework for translating the President’s blue economy vision into measurable economic and security outcomes.
He said establishing a Coast Guard would strengthen maritime governance, enhance investor confidence and unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s blue economy.
Ichaba maintained that achieving the government’s target of five million sustainable ocean-based jobs would require an institution dedicated to protecting, regulating and facilitating maritime economic activities.
He explained that the proposed Coast Guard would directly create thousands of skilled and semi-skilled jobs in marine operations, engineering, logistics, intelligence, information and communication technology (ICT), and administration.
He added that indirect employment opportunities would expand across fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, maritime transport, shipbuilding, offshore energy, hospitality and maritime education.
“The Coast Guard will create the conditions for millions of additional jobs through increased investment, stronger local content and expanded coastal industries,” he said.
Ichaba said the proposed agency would be responsible for maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, environmental protection, humanitarian response, coastal security, fisheries protection, anti-smuggling operations, anti-human trafficking, anti-piracy enforcement and port safety.
He stressed that the Coast Guard would complement, rather than duplicate, the responsibilities of existing agencies. While the Nigerian Navy focuses primarily on national defence, he noted, the proposed Coast Guard would provide continuous maritime law enforcement, environmental protection and emergency response.
Ichaba described the Coast Guard as the missing institutional pillar required to realise Nigeria’s maritime aspirations, warning that the country’s target of creating five million ocean-based jobs by 2035 could prove difficult to achieve without the agency.
He also warned that illegal fishing, smuggling, marine pollution, human trafficking and weak maritime law enforcement continue to undermine Nigeria’s blue economy.
According to him, most leading maritime nations operate both a navy and a coast guard to ensure effective maritime governance and maritime safety.
He urged President Tinubu to establish the Nigerian Coast Guard as a lasting institution that would drive economic transformation, strengthen maritime security and accelerate national development.
“Establishing the Coast Guard will not only secure the President’s maritime legacy but also position Nigeria as a leading force in Africa’s blue economy,” Ichaba said.
He added that Nigeria should not delay the opportunity to transform its vast maritime resources into sustainable economic prosperity.
