National Coordinator of Nigeria’s proposed Coastal Guard, Rear Admiral Ekwere Udoh Ekwere (rtd), has urged the National Assembly to quickly approve its establishment in the country, saying only those illegally benefitting from the loophole caused by its absence will oppose its creation.
Ekwere said that in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Coastal Guard initiative would immediately open up jobs for 10,000 Nigerians at takeoff, grant the Navy leeway to concentrate on its core mandate and stem the tide of piracy, smuggling and crude oil theft.
The former Navy Chief of Administration (DHQs), spoke with newsmen against the backdrop of a Senate public hearing on the Coastal Guard, originally slated to hold on November 5 and then November 7, but postponed indefinitely over the national mourning declared for the Late Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
No new date has been fixed for the public hearing.
Lamenting that Nigeria was today losing no less than one-third of its maritime income to leakages, Ekwere pointed out that “the Nigerian Navy cannot be omnipresent and omnipotent.
“Can you imagine how much we are losing to oil theft and nobody can even give a correct estimate? Crude is loaded and taken out illegally, not to talk of those being mined and refined internally. If the Navy chooses to be blind to this stealing, won’t it be in order for another eye and organ to see these illegalities and curtail the loss to the nation?”
“The Navy cannot do everything on its own,” Ekwere said. “It needs a complementary support system to enable it discharge its core responsibility of providing security in the international maritime borders and maintaining undiluted alert to curtail external aggression.”
According to the Rear Admiral, upon establishment, the Coastal Guard would take 10,000 Nigerians out of the unemployment queue.
Ekwere, a Seaman and Helicopter Pilot, pointed out: “Great nations of the world that have water bodies deploy their Coastal Guard to serve as supplementary backup for their Navy. They use the structure to block leakages and loopholes in their maritime security.
“The Coastal Guard helps tackle smuggling, piracy activities and other criminal acts that cause leakages in their Customs operations. Nations like Great Britain, US, Switzerland and Germany, have seized upon this means to shut up the leakages in their naval operations.”
Ekwere recalled that on his official visit to The Pentagon, he took a tour of the US Coast Guard headquarters right there in Washington DC and marveled at its admirable operations.
According to him, opponents of the idea were robbing the nation a virile and profitable supplement that would complement the lofty works of the Navy.
Ekwere said that the Coast Guard would tackle illegalities in the creeks and as well provide safety in all parts of the country spotting lakes and rivers.
He said: “The Coast Guard will also be concerned with flooding and water hazards such as happened in Kogi and Zamfara and up-North,. Our presence and coverage will provide safety in all areas where there are water bodies, including creeks and rivers.”
Public hearing on “The Nigerian Coast Guard Bill” is being organised by the Senate Committee on Marine Transport National Assembly.
Sponsored by Senator Wasiu Eshilokun (APC-Lagos), the Bill intends to enact legislation to contribute to the country’s security, especially in the maritime and regional coastal axis.
