Nigerian Coast Guard Bill: Captain of Chaplaincy Corps writes Senators, Reps, hints on answer to crucial maritime commercial security questions

Nigeria’s strategic coastal location in the West African subregion has unarguably presented a huge maritime commercial questions that the nation must rise to the occasion of addressing it through parliamentary legislations that would bring about not just safety, but derive revenue in a larger scale.

In light of this, Captain of the Chaplaincy Corps and Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Provisionary Committee, in this letter states reasons the 10th National Assembly should give accelerated hearing to the Nigeria Coast Guard Bill in the interest of the country.

The letter reads:

“This is to inform Lawmakers, Stakeholders and members of the general public that, no matter how difficult, tense and tough a question is, there is always the right answer, for the benefit of the subject-matter.

“In this therefore, looking at a bigger picture becomes a necessary duty on the part of
all Nigerians to accommodate this truth. There is no gainsaying the fact that the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard is an answer to crucial questions on:

a) Maritime Insecurities, Criminalities and Massive Revenue Losses;
b) Maritime Law Enforcement, Excessive Claims and Disregard to Rules;
c) Maritime Revenue Generation, Documentation and Remittance;
d) Maritime Earning a sure bet to terminate National Debt Burden;
e) Maritime Job Creation and Millions of Indirect Employments;
f) Maritime Security Misaligned Duties, Functions, Services and Protocols;
g) Maritime Security, Safety, Integrity, Reputation and Objective Posterity
h) Maritime Security’s Right of Occupational Name, Terms, Duty and Role;
i) Maritime Security Pillar, Promoter, Operator and Pride of Nigeria;
j) Maritime Security Responsibility and the Attacked Point of Call;
k) Maritime Agency Responsible for 0 – 12 Nautical Miles Security;
l) Maritime Security Tensions, Frustrations, Miseries & Bad Narratives;
m) Maritime Buried Virtues, Values, Ventures and Vacant Boundaries;
n) International Ship & Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and conventions;
o) Legitimate Coordinator of Effective Maritime Security Joint Operation
p) Nigeria’s Coast Guard Flag Bearer, Global Image Promoter and Respect;
q) Management of Coastal, Back and Inland Waters’ Security 4 Businesses
r) A tackler of Debased Cravings, Dearth of Patriotism & Loss of State Fame;
s) Unrealistic Steps, Tracks, Unsuited Advances and unhealthy aberrations
t) Punctuation of constitutional duties for income induced agreements;
u) The Truth, Falsehood, Light, Pathway, Profession and Collaboration;
v) Protection, Prevention, Pollution, Properties, Ports and Worksites;
w) Conforming to the Continental and World expectations;
x) Being a pace setter and debt load shedding, which direction;
y) What legacy, what posterity and what story after retirement;
z) A healthy contributor to the economy or a plunderer like others;
aa) The Yea and the No, who is right and who is wrong;
bb) Enthroning the honour and glory of Nigeria or a further diminishing of same;
cc) Deactivating the root of maritime security adversities or advancing it, what history, posterity, legacy and memory do you wish for Nigeria?
dd) Constructive or destructive direction for the maritime security, which way forward?

“The Lawmakers, Stakeholders and the Public are reminded of the GOD Factor in the Creation in the Nigerian Coast Guard and Obligatory Duty of Human Beings to the Creator; while alive and active in position. Only those who doesn’t wish Nigeria well would run away from doing what is right at the right time for the right reason in her best interest but, would rather prefer to create pernicious deception.

“What the country is witnessing today, was caused by past falsehood, misadventures, manipulations, grave oversights, wrong decisions, misplaced favours, untenable excuses, insensitivities, personal prejudices and inconsiderate utterances of the past. The resultant consequences of neglecting to do the right thing, when opportunity to do so presented itself, among others, were the combined grounds why Nigeria is subjected to several problems and misfortunes of debts, deaths, insecurity, destructions, frustrations, tensions, challenges, economic losses, negative image, self-slavery and other injurious miseries.

“For as long as Nigeria’s geographical location, as a coastline nation cannot be changed, and Members of Parliament are constitutionally bound to act in the best interest of the country as well as, the fact that, the Maritime Sector of Nigeria’s economy, security, sea power, international standing and her respective organization are concerned, diligent attention be accorded the Nigerian Coast Guard Establishment Bill SB.844 of 2021, for its early passage by the 10th Assembly, as the Bill would; Rebuild existing gaps and frameworks, Restore functional responsibilities and dignity, Correct existing distortions and administrative lapses, Expunge existing miscalculation, mismanagement and misdirection.

“Hence, Nigerian Coast Guard is a sure answer to Maritime Safety and security questions. The proposed Agency is laden with immense benefits, numerous reasons, satisfying purposes and national prestige. This is worthy of total determination and rewarding attention because of the commanding power of the security of Sea Trade and Commerce to Nigeria.”

Noah Ichaba
Captain of the Chaplaincy Corps and Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Provisionary Committee.