The Nigerian Navy, members of the National Assembly, and a coalition of civil society organisations have strongly opposed the proposed bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Coast Guard.
The bill, which has raised concerns over its potential redundancy and security risks, was sponsored by Senator Wasiu Eshilokun (APC-Lagos) and aims to create a military branch under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The Senate Committee on Marine Transport had initially scheduled a public hearing on November 7, but the session was postponed following the passing of the Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja.
The rescheduled hearing took place on Thursday in the National Assembly Library, where the Nigerian Navy led the objections, highlighting several issues with the bill.
Representing the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, Chief of Training and Operations, argued that the establishment of a Coast Guard with military powers would create unnecessary overlap with the existing naval forces.
Ferreira pointed out that in many nations, including the United Kingdom and South Africa, maritime security responsibilities are handled by the Navy, while the Coast Guard focuses on non-military tasks such as search and rescue.
He emphasised that the creation of a separate Coast Guard with military powers would lead to redundancy and inefficiency, urging lawmakers to reconsider the proposal.
The bill also faced criticism from Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior. Oshiomhole raised concerns about Nigeria’s financial constraints, questioning the justification for establishing a new agency when the country is already grappling with significant debt.
He also questioned the rationale behind placing a military service under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy instead of the Ministry of Defense, arguing that it could lead to structural inefficiencies.
Philip Agbese, a member of the House of Representatives from Benue State, also voiced opposition to the bill. He suggested that rather than creating new agencies, Nigeria should focus on strengthening existing institutions. Agbese pointed out the inconsistency in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy’s stance, citing their recent opposition to a similar Marine Corps Bill. He questioned the sudden push for a Coast Guard just 14 days after the Ministry’s objection to the Marine Corps proposal.
Additionally, Agbese highlighted the failure of state-level security outfits, such as Amotekun, to address security issues, raising doubts about the effectiveness of a new Coast Guard in tackling the challenges faced by Nigeria’s waterways.
Other speakers at the hearing, including Dr Emeka Akabogu of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association, Rear Admiral Chris Ezekobe (retd.), and Igwe Umanta, representing a coalition of 10 civil society organisations, echoed similar concerns. They warned that the establishment of a Coast Guard would duplicate existing functions and waste valuable resources.
The overall consensus at the hearing was clear: the establishment of a Nigerian Coast Guard is unnecessary and could prove counterproductive.
Despite the backing of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, it seems unlikely that the bill will move forward in its current form given the overwhelming opposition from key stakeholders.
