‘It will create confusion’ — protesters ask senate to reject coastal guards bill

Some protesters under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Nigeria (CCN) on Thursday marched in Abuja against the bill seeking the creation of coastal guards at the national assembly.

The protesters carried placards and banners with inscriptions such as “No to Coastal Guards Bill” and “Don’t Waste Our Resources.”

Kabir Matazu, the spokesperson for the group, said the “coastal guards bill is unnecessary,” noting that it will only duplicate the functions of existing security agencies like the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian marine police, and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

He said the bill is a waste of resources that will create confusion and conflict among the various security agencies.

Matazue noted that the existing security agencies are already highly rated and acclaimed internationally.

“Let us state unequivocally that members of the Nigerian coastal guards will not and cannot better protect Nigeria’s maritime interest and further regional coastal security; an additional agency will do nothing to improve these situations,” he said.

“Profoundly repetitive and reoccurring is the problem of duplications. For instance, what will the responsibility of the Merchant Shipping Act and NIMASA Act be if the coastal guards are saddled with the same functions of the training of seafarers?

“Another duplicative role is the involvement of the coastal guards in the performance of the responsibilities of monitoring and security surveillance of Nigeria’s waterways and also in hydrography since both the Nigeria police and the Nigerian Navy are already involved in both duties.

“This has been further compounded by the presidential approval for the conversion of the Nigerian Navy hydrographic office into the National Hydrographic Agency and the designation of the Nigerian Navy hydrographer as the hydrographer of the federation.

“The bill has been further rendered null and irrelevant considering the functions and responsibilities of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), which constitutionally is to enforce laws and regulations within Nigeria’s inland waters.

“Rather than solve any chaotic problem in the maritime sector, this bill, if passed into law, will only provoke challenges experienced in administration.

“This is so because the establishment of coastal guards will complicate the coordination of the maritime sector, initiate unnecessary competition, and undermine cohesion, leading to anarchy.”

Matazu added that the bill does not address any of the fundamental problems of Nigeria, describing it as a waste of public funds.