The Provisionary Committee for the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard has called on Nigeria’s littoral state governors to throw their weight behind the efforts of the Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and other stakeholders’ push for the speedy passage of the Nigerian Coast Guard Establishment Bill before the 10th National Assembly.
The Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of PC-NCG, Capt. Noah Ichaba, stated this in a statement obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Ichaba made the appeal while felicitating with the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on his emergence as the pioneer chairman of the International Coastal Border Platform.
He also applauded Bayelsa for being the first state to create a Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy in the country, adding that the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard, when established, “will go a long way in enhancing maritime safety and security, including search and rescue operations, environmental protection, and enforcement of maritime laws.”
Ichaba also lauded the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, for hosting the inaugural summit of the International Coastal Border Forum in Uyo.
He noted that the security and safety of Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline and 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways could be better handled by the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard in line with global best practices and in collaboration with sister agencies where necessary.
Ichaba pointed out that by establishing a coast guard, “Nigeria could unlock significant economic potential in sectors like tourism, hospitality, and other marine services while promoting environmental stewardship.”
According to him, the objectives of the Nigerian International Coastal Border Forum squarely align with the vision of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard, “sharing a common goal of enhancing maritime security and promoting sustainable blue growth and development in Nigeria’s coastal regions.”
“Both initiatives aim to address maritime security challenges, such as piracy, smuggling, and environmental degradation, which threaten Nigeria’s coastal communities and the emerging blue economy sector. The Nigerian International Coastal Border Platform comprises all coastal states with a focus on harmonising maritime laws, enhancing community surveillance, and promoting intelligence sharing. The Nigerian Coast Guard establishment, being championed by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Oyetola, when established, would complement the efforts of sister maritime security agencies by providing a dedicated security force to police Nigeria’s coastline,” he said.
He highlighted that the PC-NCG is working towards establishing a robust Nigerian Coast Guard that would work in tandem with existing security agencies, such as the Nigerian Navy, to secure the country’s waterways.
It would be recalled that the International Coastal Border Forum at its maiden meeting in Uyo issued a communique outlining its decisions, including a demand for a percentage of revenue from maritime taxes and crude oil exports to be dedicated to coastal security funding. The forum wants Nigerian laws, including the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, to be harmonised for more efficiency in implementation.
It advocated for the creation of more awareness on maritime safety and security to foster a culture of compliance with national and international laws. It further recommended that Nigeria take advantage of the African Integrated Border Governance Strategy and the African Continental Free Trade Zone to boost cross-border trade between coastal communities and neighbouring countries.
