Blue Economy
Maritime Security Crisis: Why Nigeria’s Proposed Coast Guard Bill Faces Mounting Opposition
By WaterwaysNews.ng Editorial Team | August 18, 2025
The controversial Nigerian Coast Guard Bill has once again become the subject of intense debate within Nigeria’s maritime sector, with the Nigerian Navy, lawmakers, and civil society groups firmly rejecting the proposed legislation, citing concerns over duplication of functions and resource constraints.
Originally introduced in 2021 by Senator Akon Eyakenyi during the 9th Senate, the bill was revived in late 2024 under the sponsorship of Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun (APC-Lagos), scaling its second reading in the Senate in October 2024. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a Nigerian Coast Guard as a military service branch under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, with responsibilities including maritime security, law enforcement, and search-and-rescue operations across Nigeria’s extensive waterways.
The Nigerian Navy has emerged as the most vocal opponent of the Coast Guard Bill, arguing that the proposed agency would create dangerous overlaps with existing maritime security infrastructure. Senior naval officers have consistently maintained that their institution already possesses the constitutional mandate and operational capacity to handle all proposed Coast Guard functions.
At the December 2024 public hearing held by the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, naval representatives warned that the new agency would lead to jurisdictional conflicts, operational inefficiencies, and unnecessary competition for already scarce resources within Nigeria’s security apparatus.
Adding weight to the opposition, National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has reportedly rejected the proposal over security concerns, particularly regarding the potential involvement of non-state actors from the Niger Delta region. Intelligence reports suggest various militant factions have been forming organizations in anticipation of incorporation into the proposed Coast Guard structure.
Maritime industry experts have expressed alarm at these developments, warning that the emergence of such groups could compromise the credibility and effectiveness of any new maritime security initiative.
From a constitutional perspective, critics argue that Nigeria’s Constitution explicitly recognizes only the Army, Navy, and Air Force as military arms. Creating a fourth branch without constitutional amendment raises significant legal questions about command structure and operational authority during maritime emergencies.
Nigeria’s current economic challenges have made the Coast Guard Bill’s financial implications a central point of criticism. Establishing and maintaining a new military service requires substantial investment in personnel, equipment, and infrastructure – resources that critics argue would be better utilized strengthening existing maritime agencies.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) currently operate with overlapping responsibilities and limited resources. Adding another agency to this framework threatens to further fragment command structures and divert funds from institutions that desperately need enhancement.
While some maritime stakeholders and experts have expressed support for the Coast Guard Bill, describing it as necessary for unlocking Nigeria’s blue economy potential, the opposition coalition continues to grow. Civil society organizations have repeatedly protested the legislation, with some groups storming legislative chambers to demand its withdrawal.
The division within the maritime community reflects broader concerns about Nigeria’s approach to maritime security coordination. Critics emphasize that effective maritime governance requires enhanced inter-agency cooperation, not the creation of additional competing institutions.
Rather than creating a new Coast Guard, opponents advocate for strengthening existing maritime security infrastructure through:
– Enhanced funding and modernization of the Nigerian Navy’s coastal operations
– Improved coordination between NIMASA, NIWA, and other maritime agencies
– Constitutional reforms to clarify maritime security responsibilities
– Investment in technology and training for current maritime law enforcement personnel
As Nigeria seeks to develop its blue economy potential, the Coast Guard Bill debate highlights fundamental questions about institutional efficiency versus expansion. With over 200 million citizens and an 853-kilometer coastline, the country certainly possesses the human resources and geographical significance to become a maritime power.
However, industry observers increasingly argue that success lies not in creating new institutions but in optimizing existing ones. The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy’s effectiveness may depend more on fostering collaboration between established agencies than on introducing potentially destabilizing new entities into Nigeria’s already complex maritime security architecture.
The bill’s future remains uncertain as opposition continues to mount from key stakeholders across Nigeria’s maritime sector. For a nation facing significant security and economic challenges, the Coast Guard debate represents a critical decision point between institutional multiplication and strategic optimization of existing resources.
*WaterwaysNews.ng continues to monitor developments in this ongoing legislative battle that could reshape Nigeria’s maritime security landscape.*