The Provisional Committee of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has renewed its call for the establishment of a dedicated Coast Guard, describing it as a crucial step toward strengthening maritime security and protecting Nigeria’s economic interests.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Chief Executive Officer of the PC-NCG, Capt. Noah Ichaba, said a Coast Guard remains the missing link in Nigeria’s maritime governance framework.
According to him, the proposed agency would bring maritime safety, security, enforcement and economic protection under a unified and coordinated operational structure.
Ichaba explained that the Coast Guard would support efforts to combat smuggling, curb illegal fishing activities, improve vessel inspections and ensure stronger compliance with maritime regulations.
He added that a centralised maritime security agency would enhance rapid response to piracy, oil theft, sea robbery and kidnapping across Nigeria’s waterways.
The maritime expert noted that the current distribution of responsibilities among multiple agencies has created operational gaps and weakened enforcement efforts within the sector.
He stressed that Nigeria’s 850-kilometre coastline, strategic seaports and offshore energy assets require a dedicated institution capable of coordinating maritime operations effectively.
Ichaba further observed that more than 80 per cent of Nigeria’s international trade passes through the maritime domain, making efficient governance and security critical to national development.
He said coastal communities, fishermen, shipping companies and port operators continue to suffer the consequences of insecurity, operational delays and environmental threats.
According to him, a Coast Guard would integrate key functions such as search and rescue operations, pollution control, fisheries monitoring, port security and marine law enforcement under one structure.
He maintained that establishing the agency would strengthen national sovereignty, improve maritime governance and unlock greater opportunities within the blue economy.
Ichaba also reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to collaborating with the National Assembly and major maritime stakeholders to develop the legal framework required for the proposed agency.
He argued that Nigeria cannot fully harness opportunities in blue trade, investment and employment without a unified maritime security architecture.
“The ocean is Nigeria’s next economic frontier, and the time to bridge the maritime governance gap is now,” he said.
