A Bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Coast Guard which was sponsored by Senator Sanni Eshilokun (Lagos Central) has passed second reading in the Senate after a thorough debate that has several Senators speaking on advantage and disadvantages of having the institution.
Speaking on the general principles of the bill, the lawmaker said, the proposed establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard will be charged with the responsibility of securing the maritime zones of Nigeria, “aiming to protect the maritime and other national interests within these zones, subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He added that the Nigerian Coast Guard as a special institution will maintain a state of readiness to function as a specialized service in time of war.
In his submission on the bill on Tuesday, Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, stressed the importance of establishing the Nigerian Coast Guard, which he emphasized will assist the vision of creating a blue economy for the nation.
Ningi dispelled fears that the responsibility of the Nigerian Coast Guard would clash with that of the Nigerian Navy, explaining that responsibilities of agency would be clearly spelt out through legislative processes.
He said: “Mr President, my name is Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central. Mr President, this bill is extremely important. It is important that we organize this government institution in creating a blue economy. This blue economy will become a mirage at the end of the day if it is not backed by a Coast Guard.
“Yes, there is a possibility of Navy saying there is encroachment and that is why in legislative business, there are processes and by the time this bill scaled second reading, Navy will be invited/
“The possibility of creating Coast Guard is there and there will be limitations to what Coast Guard will do and what Navy is doing. I listened to Senator Yahaya Abdullahi and I understand his sentiment that the Navy may not likely appreciate what we are trying to do.
“The destiny of this nation supersedes an institution. We cannot live in the past and think we can make a difference. The United States has the strongest Navy in the world, they have Coast Guard, India has one of the strongest Navy in the world, they have Coast Guard, Australia has one of the strongest Navy and versatile in the world, they have Coast Guard.
“We have one of vast marine on the continent of Africa, over 3,500sqm, yet over 64 years we have challenge of controlling our marine. One of the challenges we have is our inability to control oil theft.
In his contribution, the former Senate Leader and Senator representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District, Yahaya Abdullahi differed, saying that the mandate of the prosed Coast Guard was being worked upon for the Nigerian Navy, hence, he urged Senators to be circumspect in dealing with the bill.
He said: “Senator Yahaya Abdullah: I don’t have objection to this bill in principle. My own is for us to look at the institutional dimension of what we are trying to do now.
“I have the privilege of being the Chairman of a Committee that was established in the 9th Senate to see to the revival of Nigerian Naval Ship and because of that engagement, I was in constant communication and interaction with the Nigerian Navy.
“We have to be very circumspect about what we are trying to do now, given the situation that is on the ground. Most of the countries we are talking now that have Coast Guard have ocean going vessels, they have oceans and blue seas like the United States of America. Britain and other developed countries.
“They have functional maritime defensive and offensive capabilities. The Coast Guard is to guard essentially what this bill is supposed to do.
“Now the Nigerian Navy currently as I stand to be corrected by the Chairman of Senate Committee on Nigeria Navy, distinguished Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel, is currently doing the work of Coast Guard to have offensive and defensive capabilities.
“The attempt by the last administration to revive and re-equip the Nigerian Naval Ship which is the only ocean going vessels that we have was somehow thwarted by the same Navy.
“Now the challenge that we have is when a Coast Guard is created to guard coast, what will the Navy that is doing the work of Coast Guard be doing?
In lending his support to the bill, Senator Peter Nwebonyi representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, said, the establishment of the Coast Guard will be an additional value to security structure of the country and providing job for the teaming Nigerians.
He noted: “I remain Senator Peter Nwebonyi representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, If this Coast is established, it is going to add value to our security outfit in waterways and providing jobs to our teaming unemployed youths.
Senator Yunus Akintunde representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, expressed his experience while on oversight functions to some agencies related to marine services, explained that the establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard was most needed to complement their services.
He said: “Mr President, I want to lend my voice on the need for establishment of Nigerian Coast Guard. As a member of this Committee and one that has participated in oversight functions to some of the agencies, like NIWA, NIMASA, they will tell you that one of the challenges they faced is the lack of Coast Guard.
“They gave us instances that when they buy aircraft, who manages it, they give to the Nigeria Airforce. If NIMASA or NIWA buy speed boat today, they have to give it to Navy. Navy by their function is national defense, while Coast Guard is for maritime law enforcement and public safety and there two different things.”
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory in the upper legislative Chamber, Ireti Kingibe lamented that Nigeria was losing over $35 billion revenue for the lack of existing Nigerian Coast Guard, stating that its establishment would boost the revenue profile of the economy.
Reacting to the passage of the bill, in a statement he made available to CAPITAL POST on Wednesday in Abuja, an maritime expert and the Provisionary Committee of the Nigerian Coast Guard. Captain Noah Ichaba, commended Senators for their understanding of the need for the country to have the outfit manning the seas.
According to him, he wrote a letter proposing the establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, copies of which were made available to all Senators, referencing that the establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard would be in the interest of the country.
Part of the statement read: “What we longed for is finally here with the accelerated legislative action on the Nigerian Coast Guard Establishment Bill SB. 575 of 2024 which passed its Second Reading on Tuesday 15th October 2024, at the Senate Chamber.
“PC-NCG, on 24th July 2023 wrote to the Senate President captioned “inherited Action on Nigerian Coast Guard Establishment …” via letter ref. No: PCOP/NCG/NHQ/NASS/VOL.1/041/23 seeking Senate’s munificent action on the Bill being processed by the Provisionary Committee right from the 9th Senate.
“In the same vein, the facilitation team dispatched a letter of “passionate Call for Action on the Establishment of Nigerian Coast Guard” to all Distinguished Senators under letter ref. No: PCOP/NCG/NHQ/NASS/VOL.1/042/23 dated 30th July 2023, and called for positive stance,in national interest, in the belief that Parliamentarians are constitutionally bound to act in the best interest of the country and that Coast Guard Agency is Nigeria’s heritage aswell as a twin creation of Nigeria by the unquestionable Planner and Perfect Designer of the universe.
“Today, once again, I am happy to say that with the Second Reading and referral of the NCG Estab. Bill for further legislative action, the dawn of coasting home in fulfilment is finally here.”, Ichaba said.
