The Provisional Committee for the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has urged governors of Nigeria’s littoral states to rally behind the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and other key stakeholders in pushing for the swift passage of the Nigerian Coast Guard Establishment Bill before the 10th National Assembly.
In a statement obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday, the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the PC-NCG, Capt. Noah Ichaba, made the appeal while congratulating the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on his appointment as the pioneer chairman of the International Coastal Border Platform.
Ichaba commended Bayelsa State for leading by example as the first state in Nigeria to create a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. He stressed that the establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard would significantly boost maritime safety and security, including search and rescue operations, environmental protection, and enforcement of maritime laws.
He also praised the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, for hosting the inaugural summit of the International Coastal Border Forum in Uyo, noting that such initiatives align closely with Nigeria’s maritime security objectives.
Highlighting the country’s extensive maritime domain, Ichaba pointed out that Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline and 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways could be more effectively secured by a dedicated coast guard, in line with global best practices and in cooperation with existing security agencies when necessary.
According to him, the creation of a coast guard would not only address security concerns but also unlock significant economic opportunities in sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and other marine-related industries, while fostering environmental stewardship.
Ichaba noted that the objectives of the Nigerian International Coastal Border Forum are in harmony with the vision of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard, as both aim to strengthen maritime security and promote sustainable blue economy growth in the country’s coastal regions.
“Both initiatives,” he said, “seek to tackle pressing maritime security threats, including piracy, smuggling, and environmental degradation, which continue to endanger Nigeria’s coastal communities and emerging marine-based industries.”
The Nigerian International Coastal Border Platform, according to Ichaba, brings together all coastal states to focus on harmonising maritime laws, improving community surveillance, and enhancing intelligence sharing. He stressed that the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard spearheaded by Minister Oyetola would complement the efforts of other maritime security agencies by providing a specialised force dedicated to policing Nigeria’s waterways.
He emphasised that the PC-NCG’s vision is to build a capable and robust Nigerian Coast Guard that will work closely with the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies to secure the nation’s maritime assets. This, he argued, would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to safeguard its marine environment, enhance economic activity along its coastline, and ensure the safety of its inland waterways.
Ichaba concluded by calling for united action from all coastal states, stressing that their collective support is critical to ensuring the timely passage of the bill and the realisation of a secure, prosperous, and environmentally sustainable maritime future for Nigeria.
