Nigeria needs coast guard to secure blue economy
The Provisionary Committee for the Establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Nigerian Coast Guard Bill, describing the proposed legislation as critical to strengthening maritime security and unlocking the country’s blue economy potential.
The committee said Nigeria could no longer afford to delay the establishment of a dedicated Coast Guard, despite concerns over funding and the possible duplication of the responsibilities of existing maritime agencies.
*Senate President Godswill Akpabio (top) and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
The Provisionary Committee for the Establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Nigerian Coast Guard Bill, describing the proposed legislation as critical to strengthening maritime security and unlocking the country’s blue economy potential.
The committee said Nigeria could no longer afford to delay the establishment of a dedicated Coast Guard, despite concerns over funding and the possible duplication of the responsibilities of existing maritime agencies.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the committee’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, on behalf of its Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, Capt. Noah Ichaba.
The committee said the bill, which was recently stepped down during its third reading in the Senate, represented a strategic national investment in maritime safety, security, economic development, environmental protection and the preservation of lives.
It said the proposed legislation would help secure Nigeria’s inland and coastal waterways, attract investment in the blue economy and create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
The PC-NCG urged stakeholders not to be discouraged by concerns over the financial implications of establishing the Coast Guard, arguing that existing local and international funding sources supporting agencies performing coast guard-related functions could be restructured to support the proposed institution.
Ichaba said public debate should focus on the consequences of operating without a dedicated Coast Guard rather than solely on the cost of establishing one.
“A Coast Guard should not be viewed merely as another public institution requiring funding. It should be understood as a strategic national investment in maritime safety, security, economic resilience, environmental protection and the preservation of human life,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria continues to bear the economic and social costs of maritime insecurity, fragmented emergency responses, illegal exploitation of marine resources, environmental degradation and missed opportunities in the blue economy.
He said the challenges affect government institutions, coastal communities, investors, industries and citizens.
The committee also dismissed claims that the proposed Coast Guard would duplicate the functions of existing maritime agencies.
It said effective maritime nations operate on four key pillars: maritime defence, maritime administration, port management and maritime law enforcement.
According to the committee, Nigeria has made significant progress in strengthening the first three pillars, while specialised maritime law enforcement through a dedicated Coast Guard remains a critical institutional gap.
It said the proposed Coast Guard would provide specialised civilian services in search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, environmental protection, fisheries enforcement, waterway safety and coordinated emergency response.
The committee added that the proposed arrangement would enable the Nigerian Navy to focus more effectively on its constitutional defence responsibilities.
It noted that countries with significant maritime interests had established specialised coast guards because preventing maritime emergencies and security threats was more cost-effective than responding to them after they occurred.
The PC-NCG urged the National Assembly, the Executive, maritime stakeholders and Nigerians to support the passage of the bill in the interest of national security and economic development.
It maintained that establishing a Coast Guard would strengthen maritime institutions, improve security on Nigeria’s waterways and support the growth of the country’s blue economy.
“The true cost lies not in establishing a Coast Guard, but in allowing avoidable institutional gaps to persist year after year,” the statement added.
Photo caption: Senate President Godswill Akpabio (top) and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
