Wednesday, May 28, 2025
  • Share your story
  • About
  • Contact
Economy FootPrint
  • Home
  • News & Politics
  • Opinion
  • Finance & Economy
  • Aviation
  • Editorial
  • Transport & Blue Economy
  • Features | Analysis
  • Health | Environment
Economy FootPrint
Home News

National Coast Guard Will Unlock Nigeria’s Maritime Potential – Oyetola

EconomyFoot Print by EconomyFoot Print
December 6, 2024
in News, Transport & Blue Economy
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Chris Agabi

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola has lauded the proposed establishment of the National Coast Guard Bill.
He said when passed, it will be the catalyst needed in unlocking the nation’s maritime potential.
The minister made this known at the National Assembly complex at the 1-Day Public Hearing on National Coast Guard Bill (NCG) a statement by Muhammad Tahir Zakari, the Head, Press, and PR.
FMM&BE said.
He highlighted that the bill when passed, will guarantee maritime safety, sustainable marine resource development and enhance economic growth.
Outlining the major domian around establishment and need for the National Coast Guard, the Minister identified;
1.Maritime safety
2. Environmental protection through enforcing environmental regulations and conservation of marine ecosystems,
3. Enforcement of civil maritime laws to uphold laws governing civil maritime activities and enforce fishing regulations while preventing illegal exploitation
4. Search and rescue to maritime emergencies and also conduct timely search and rescue operations.
He cited a 2009 publication by the African Centre for Strategic Studies, which noted that 15 of the 21 independent maritime nations in sub-Saharan Africa have dedicated coast guards and identify themselves as such. Despite this, none of these nations have Nigeria’s population or the extent of its inland waterways and coastline.
While acknowledging the significant role of the Nigerian Navy in safeguarding the Nigerian maritime space following the collaborative effort with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in the Deep Blue Project which has shown great results with zero piracy in Nigeria’s territorial water in the last three years.
He, however, stressed the need for the National Coast Guard to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Navy in playing a critical role in preventing accidents, crime, and other threats to maritime activities
“A vast coastline of 850 km, the equivalent of 10,000 km in two ways. It is also a place of rich and diverse economic sources.”
While these opportunities are promising, they also present challenges such as pollution, overfishing, and unsustainable use of marine resources. The proposed National Coast Guard is equipped to tackle these issues.
He urged the Senate and the National Assembly to lend their full support to the bill, pointing that, “Nigeria Coast Guard will act as a vital complement to the Navy, of fostering a safe and sustainable maritime environment.”
He further appealed for the establishment of a flexible, adaptive implementation strategy that would evolve into a midwife for the bill to succeed while urging those with reservations to see the pressing need of the institution.
Earlier during the hearing, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio commended the members of Committee on Marine and Transport for their unwavering dedication in piloting the initiative and advocating for the establishment of the National Coast Guard Bill.
Akpabio represented by Sen. Akintunde Yunus said the essence of the bill was to make critical decisions that will guarantee the safety of the nation’s waterways and protect the marine resources.
He averred that “the establishment of the National Coast Guard is not merely a legislative formality, but a dire necessity.”
Speaking also at the hearing, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine and Transport, Sen. Sanni Eshinlokun said the Bill was first read in the Senate on the 3rd of October this year while the Senate at its plenary deliberated on the General Principles of the Bill.
Senator Eshinlokun said, “The Bill was read for the second time and referred to the Senate Committee on Marine Transport for further legislative action.”
He continued, “Today’s public hearing seeks to enhance the Bill’s provisions in alignment to the 10th Senate commitment to inclusive law-making.”

Related posts

We Have Flushed Out Lukaruwas Terrorists In The Northwest – GOC

We Have Flushed Out Lukaruwas Terrorists In The Northwest – GOC

May 28, 2025
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Awards N25m to Autistic Teenager’s Guinness World Record Achievement

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Awards N25m to Autistic Teenager’s Guinness World Record Achievement

May 26, 2025
Previous Post

Matawalle Commends Pres. Timubu For  Prompt Payment Of Salaries Of Military Personnel

Next Post

Navy, Lawmakers, Others Reject Nigerian Coast Guard, Urge Senate To Kill Bill

Next Post

Navy, Lawmakers, Others Reject Nigerian Coast Guard, Urge Senate To Kill Bill

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECOMMENDED NEWS

Transcorp Hotels Posts N29.7b Revenue Revenue in Half Year 2024

Transcorp Hilton Abuja Sets the Mood for Valentine’s Day with Exclusive Dining and Room Offers

3 months ago
Respite for BDCs as CBN Extends Deadline for Temporary FX Sales

Respite for BDCs as CBN Extends Deadline for Temporary FX Sales

4 months ago

Musawa Salutes Nigerian Women on International Women’s Day

3 months ago
Tinubu, Ortom, Uba Eulogizes Akume at 70

Tinubu, Ortom, Uba Eulogizes Akume at 70

1 year ago

FOLLOW US

  • 86.2k Followers

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Aviation
  • Brands
  • Crime
  • Editorial
  • Features | Analysis
  • Finance | Insurance | Pension
  • Health | Environment
  • Industry | Trade | Commerce
  • International
  • Interview | Profile
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Small Business
  • Sports
  • Top News
  • Transport & Blue Economy
  • Uncategorized

BROWSE BY TOPICS

2023 Benue Budget Abuja-Kaduna Rail Access Corporation Access pension airports concession Aviation Ayu Benue Budget Benue Community Buhari Business CBN Central Bank Dana Air Economy FGPL Herdsmen Herdsmen attacks insecurity insurance Maritime Min of Transport MSMEs NAICOM NCAA Nigeria Nigeria -Cameroon Border Post Nigeria Air NRac Onne Port ooh Orrom Ortom PDP PenCom pension Railway Sambo Jaji Transcorp Transcorp Group Transcorp Hotels Plc UBA Ukohol Wike Wildon Ideva

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Aviation
  • Brands
  • Crime
  • Editorial
  • Features | Analysis
  • Finance | Insurance | Pension
  • Health | Environment
  • Industry | Trade | Commerce
  • International
  • Interview | Profile
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Small Business
  • Sports
  • Top News
  • Transport & Blue Economy
  • Uncategorized

Economy Footprint

The EconomyFootprint is published by Ideas Tent Communications Ltd®. All Rights Reserved.

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • We Have Flushed Out Lukaruwas Terrorists In The Northwest – GOC
  • Tony Elumelu Foundation lifted 2.1 million Africans out of poverty in 15 Years
  • First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Awards N25m to Autistic Teenager’s Guinness World Record Achievement

Category

  • Aviation
  • Brands
  • Crime
  • Editorial
  • Features | Analysis
  • Finance | Insurance | Pension
  • Health | Environment
  • Industry | Trade | Commerce
  • International
  • Interview | Profile
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Small Business
  • Sports
  • Top News
  • Transport & Blue Economy
  • Uncategorized

Recent News

We Have Flushed Out Lukaruwas Terrorists In The Northwest – GOC

We Have Flushed Out Lukaruwas Terrorists In The Northwest – GOC

May 28, 2025
Nigeria’s Economy Requires More Than Short-term Interventions – Elumelu

Tony Elumelu Foundation lifted 2.1 million Africans out of poverty in 15 Years

May 27, 2025
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion