The Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Provisionary Committee for the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG), Captain Noah Ichaba, has applauded the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for his resilience and dedication in driving the establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard through ongoing legislative processes in the 10th National Assembly.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the Director of Public Affairs and Information, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, Capt. Ichaba stressed the urgent need for collaboration among relevant maritime agencies to combat incessant boat mishaps on Nigeria’s waterways. He noted that once established, the Nigerian Coast Guard would be better positioned to enforce marine safety standards and safeguard lives and property.
According to him, the facilitating team for the establishment of the Coast Guard would continue to work in synergy with the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and other critical stakeholders to ensure the Nigerian Coast Guard Bill is passed before the current Assembly.
Capt. Ichaba also cautioned members of the public to beware of fraudulent individuals or groups parading themselves as officers of the Nigerian Coast Guard. He disclosed that all security agencies have been alerted and urged the public to report any such cases to the nearest police station or the PC-NCG leadership.
He commended the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Chairman of the Special Committee on the Prevention of Boat Mishaps in Nigeria, Bola Oyebamiji, for recommending the establishment of a Coast Guard in the committee’s report. He said the inclusion aligns with the minister’s push for the bill’s speedy passage, adding that the recruitment and deployment of Coast Guard personnel would help curb criminal activities and frequent mishaps on the waterways.
The PC-NCG chief further called for the formulation of a National Boat Design Policy to standardise vessel types, alongside mandatory certification and training for boat operators. He also advocated increased funding for NIWA to boost hydrographic and engineering capacity and establish search-and-rescue stations across critical inland waterways.
Capt. Ichaba lauded the minister’s nationwide distribution of life jackets to riverine and coastal communities, describing it as a step in the right direction.
It will be recalled that while receiving the Special Committee’s report, Oyetola had stressed that the Nigerian Navy could not safeguard the waterways alone, emphasising the need to fast-track the Coast Guard’s creation to complement naval operations. He assured that the report would serve as a foundation for immediate and long-term reforms.
