The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre says the creation of the ‘Nigeria Coast Guard’ may overlap and duplicate the mandates of other maritime agencies.
SEREC’s head researcher, Eugene Nweke, said on Wednesday in Abuja that though the maritime space could benefit from a coast guard that specialises in coastal security and law enforcement, it was imperative to address concerns about duplication of functions and cost implications and ensure effective coordination with existing agencies.
“SEREC recommends that the proposed bill for the creation of a Nigeria Coast Guard be stepped down for now.
“We recommend the conduct of a thorough analysis of the proposed Coast Guard Bill and stakeholder engagement to define the Coast Guard’s roles and responsibilities clearly to avoid overlap with other agencies.
”Experts should consider national interest above pecuniary or group interest,” he said.
The SEREC head researcher also highlighted the complexity of the Nigerian maritime domain with multiple agencies operating within it.
He stated that the Nigerian Navy had the primary responsibility for maritime security, defence, protection, and enforcement of maritime laws.
He added that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, the Nigeria Police Marine Unit, and the Nigeria Customs Marine Unit were responsible for regulating maritime safety and security.
He stressed that with the activities of the Nigerian Navy, the creation of a coast guard would bring redundancies, wastage of limited national resources and inefficiencies.
He recommended adequate funding for the navy to enhance its capabilities rather than establishing a new agency.
“This will ensure that the navy effectively performs its roles, as overlapping roles between the coast guard and Nigerian Navy could lead to conflicts and inefficiencies.
“Setting up a coast guard will require significant investment in infrastructure, equipment, and personnel, which can be challenging given the current economic climate,” Mr Nweke added.
