Nigeria’s Coast Guard Bill: A Maritime Security Imperative
The proposed Coast Guard Bill is essential to strengthening Nigeria’s maritime security and unlocking the potential of its blue economy, according to the Chairman of the National Committee on the Coast Guard, as reported by dailynewsngr.com.ng. The legislation, which has been under consideration by the National Assembly for several years, seeks to establish a dedicated service to patrol Nigeria’s coastline and inland waterways.
Existing Maritime Security Architecture
Nigeria currently relies on a patchwork of agencies for maritime security. The Nigerian Navy handles naval operations in territorial and international waters, while the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) coordinates shipping regulation and safety. The Nigeria Police Maritime Unit and other agencies also play overlapping roles, a configuration that has long been criticised for creating jurisdictional gaps and diluting accountability.
Threats in the Gulf of Guinea
The urgency of the bill stems from persistent threats in Nigerian waters. The Gulf of Guinea has historically ranked among the world’s most dangerous maritime regions for piracy, vessel hijackings, and kidnapping of crew members. Oil theft, commonly referred to as illegal bunkering, has long drained the Nigerian economy of billions of dollars, while illegal fishing by foreign trawlers depletes the fish stocks that coastal communities depend on for protein and livelihoods.
The Blue Economy Opportunity
Beyond security, supporters frame the bill as an economic necessity. Nigeria’s coastline stretches roughly 853 kilometres, and its exclusive economic zone covers a vast area of the Atlantic Ocean. Proponents describe the blue economy, encompassing fisheries, shipping, tourism, and offshore energy, as a vast untapped frontier. A dedicated coast guard, they argue, would provide the consistent enforcement presence needed to attract investment and protect these resources. The bill has been passed at various stages of legislative review in past sessions but has yet to receive full enactment, and stakeholders continue to press for its passage.
Sources
This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.
- dailynewsngr.com.ng — Coast Guard Bill Critical to Nigeria’s Maritime Security, Blue Economy — PC-NCG
