The senator representing the Edo North senatorial district, Senator Adams Oshiomhole has kicked against the establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard.
The proposed guard is aimed at protecting Nigeria’s maritime areas across the nation.
Speaking at a plenary on Tuesday, Oshiomhole argued that the Nigerian Navy is already fulfilling this role meant for the Nigerian Coast Guard.
The lawmaker cited the previous establishment of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, which according to him were not necessary.
He said: “This is how we created the National Road Safety Commission with a huge overhead. When I was growing up that job was being done by the traffic division of the Nigeria Police and they were more efficient than it is today.
“Those of you who travel on the road, I don’t know if you see the Road Safety Commission helpful but they were created.
“That is how we created the Nigeria Civil Defence to protect the pipelines and government properties. Right now, I don’t know whether the properties are safer or not.
“Issues like this should be referred to the National Security Adviser, the executives. They alone can tell us whether or not another institution is needed but for now, I think our mandate should be trying to strengthen the Navy.”
