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Proposed Nigeria Coast Guard: The Dangers ahead — Maritime expert.

Funso OLOJO 

An expert in maritime safety, who did not want his name in print, has warned of the dire consequences should the  National Assembly passes the Nigeria Coast guard bill into law.
It could be recalled that the bill, which is currently before the National Assembly,  seeks to establish a military service which is a branch of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, to ensure maritime safety that will domicile under the ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The expert, who is a Marine Engineer and  a retired civil servant from one of the agencies of government, claimed that the bill, if passed into law, will compound the muted unhealthy rivalry and competition among the agencies of governments such as the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency( NIMASA), Nigeria National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
According to him, the proposed body will rival the Nigerian Navy and may also lead to the deadly clash of these two armed groups on the Nigerian waters.
He also warned that if the proposed Nigerian Coast guard is modelled after the United States Coast Guard (USCG), that may lead to irrelevance  or total annihilation of NIMASA .
” If you model the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard after US Coast Guard, then you have to abolish NIMASA or the body take over NIMASA job completely.
“This is because in the US, the Coast Guard does all the safety administration.
” What the US Coast Guard is doing is what NIMASA does in Nigeria.
” If that is your model, you have failed from the beginning. You are scrapping NIMASA because you are going to duplicate the jobs of NIMASA.
“In America, the USCG is the apex body that is responsible to the IMO which NIMASA is.
“So the moment you bring American model of Coast Guard to Nigeria, NIMASA is gone.
” That means another body will be doing the safety administration job of NIMASA.
“The proponents of this bill have not sat down to look at technicalities and technical implications of the introduction of the new body.
” They are only trying to bring in the box of the Coast guard without the contents, the technicalities involved.
” The experts such as master mariners, maritime engineers, ship owners, marine engineers, industry operators should sit down and look at the implications of the proposed legislation.
” But what we have before the National Assembly is the box, which is the Coast Guard but what is going to be put in the box have never been discussed.
” The substance of the bill has not been discussed.
” To me, that is deception, if we fail to sit down and look at its technicalities.
” If you are looking for the American model of Coast guard, then there would be no NIMASA because there is no Maritime Administration in the US.
” It is the USCG that is maritime administration who does survey, registration of ships, Port state and flag state control.
” If you bring American model of Coast guard, then you does survey, who does ship registration, your port state and flag state inspection.
” Who is responsible to curtail marine pollution on your waters?
” In any maritime nation, the maritime safety is handled by its maritime administration like NIMASA while maritime security is handled by the country’s Navy.
” So what does the proposed Nigerian Coast guard do unless its functions overlap with that of Navy and NIMASA”
The marine engineer warned that if we  bring the Coast Guard which the Navy said it does not want, there would be friction between the two armed groups which may result into conflicts at sea.
He claimed that those retired naval officers who support the bill are those who are eyeing to be recruited into the Coast Guard and want to become Coast Guard General because they are looking for job .
“Those retired Naval officers supporting the bill are looking for job because those who are still in the service will not support the bill”
” Which roles are the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard is going to play that the Nigerian Navy said it’s tired of playing” the maritime expert asked rhetorically.
He believed that if the Nigerian Navy is well funded and equipped with the necessary tools and infrastructure, it will be able to adequately protect Nigerian waters.
” But they deliberately underfunded the Navy, they deliberately ill- equipped the Navy and they are now bringing in another body to split the Navy functions because they are all eyeing NIMASA money” the Marine Engineer alleged.
He claimed that the proposed body is likely to be funded by NIMASA.
” This is the money the proponents of this proposed body is eyeing” he further claimed.
He then wondered what will happen to NIMASA and Navy if this bill is pushed through.
” NIMASA is still facing challenges of overlapping functions from NIWA, Nigerian Shippers’ Council and NPA which are yet to be resolved and you are now bringing in another body which will complicate these problems on the sea”
” All these will cause NIMASA unnecessary distractions from its core functions”
” Is this how we want to get category C seat in the IMO ” the retired civil servant queried.
He said that in countries such as India where they have Navies , maritime administrations and coast guards, their functions are clearly spelt out without overlap.
“But such was not the case in Nigeria”
” We are already in a mess due to the overlapping functions of the agencies under the ministry of Marine and Blue Economy which render them ineffective.
“We have overlap functions between NIMASA and NIWA which have not been addressed and causing tension between the two agencies.
“There is also an issue between NIMASA and Nigerian Shippers’ Council because the Nigerian Shipping and Economic Recovery Agency bill of Shippers’ Council before the National Assembly contains most of the shipping development functions of NIMASA”
” There is also the problem of overlapping functions between NIMASA and NPA.
” If you lack the capacity as a supervising minister to address these challenges among your agencies, why bringing another body to complicate the issues on ground?
” The unhealthy rivalry among the agencies under the ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is so enormous that the ministry should not compound the already bad situation by pushing for a coast guard that will come to mess up the already bad situation ” the Marine Engineer declared.
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Headlines

May Day: Mobereola salutes maritime workers for passion, dedication to building virile industry 

Gloria Odion,  Maritime reporter 

The Director – General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has saluted the courage , passion and dedication of maritime workers to building strong and virile industry.
In his message at the Workers’ day on May 1st, 2026, the NIMASA DG extolled the virtues of workers and acknowledged the distinguished service of various stakeholders whose efforts he noted continue to significantly contribute to the development of the Nigerian maritime industry.
Dr. Mobereola, while wishing stakeholders a Happy Workers’ Day said “to all the amazing officers and stakeholders in the maritime sector who bring their passion and expertise to work daily.

“Thank you for your dedication and invaluable contributions”.

He emphasized that as a regulator, the Agency remains committed to its oversight function of regulating maritime labour activities in the industry in line with extant instruments and the expectations of the theme of the 2026 Workers’ Day, which focuses on safety, dignity and productivity.

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Customs

Kaila, Seme Customs CAC, seeks collaboration with stakeholders to achieve seemless trade along border corridor 

Funso OLOJO, Editor
The new Area Controller of the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, has  reached out to traditional rulers and  sister agencies at the border communities to ensure the achievement of his mandate of detection, determent of smuggling, revenue generation and trade facilitation along the border corridor.
To achieve these objectives, Comptroller Kaila went on tour of the communities within the border corridor where he met and sought for the support and cooperation of major critical stakeholders, including the traditional rulers and sister agencies.
According to him, his objective was to eradicate trade hindrances affecting free movement of goods and services along the Lagos-Abidjan business corridor.
Speaking at the Palace of Oba Akran of Badagry Kingdom, the Customs Area Controller condoled with the royal family and entire people of Badagry kingdom on the passing away of HRM De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I who was a well recognized traditional ruler across the border communities.
“”The purpose of my visit is to introduce myself as the Area Controller of Seme Command and to equally seek your royal blessing and support to achieve the core mandate of the service.
“Our priority remains to generate revenue, facilitate trade, and suppress smuggling.
“And we in the Customs believe that without due support and co-operation from traditional rulers, we can not have effective performance of our functions as Customs officers” he said
 The King Regent, Chief Abel Ogunbiyi, who described Kaila as the son of the soil, added that “We have listened to your request.
” Know that Badagry is a very peaceful town, and we will keep collaborating with you in safeguarding our borders and in promoting legitimate trade, ” he stated.
Comptroller Kaila also visited the Onibereko of Ibereko Awori-Kingdom, where the monarch, Oba Israel Okoya, signifies his commitment to fostering the service relationship with residents living within the border  communities
“I welcome you to Badagry and be rest assured that I will always talk to my people whenever the need is required.
” In our town, our youth does not engage in illegalities as I have no other choice than to assist you in achieving the government mandate, ” he mentioned
While at the Palace of Alapa of Apa Kingdom, the king HRM Oba Oyekan Ajose Ilufemiloye commended and described the CAC, Comptroller Kaila as a professional, seasoned and well respected officer as described by indigenes of border communities.
“I promise you that I will always assist you in my area for anything that you need.
“Our border here has been peaceful because our youth always listen to the elders, and I know with your presence here, things will change for the better, ” he said
In his efforts to consolidate on existing synergy between sister security agencies, Kaila also visited Headquarters of 653 Nigerian Air force base, Ahanve-Badagry.
The  Commanding Officer, Group Captain Hungruy  Medugu,expressed the  readiness of the formation to always support the command in achieving its mandate.
“Our collaboration has been key to various successes we have recorded in our area of responsibility.
” Your presence here strengthens existing bonds of inter-agency collaboration between both Services, and we will not take it for granted ,” he said
The Area Controller then ended his familirisation tour with seeking for mutual cooperation with a visit to the Republic of Benin Police office, showing his readiness to eradicate hindrances affecting the free movement of goods and services across the border.
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Headlines

Opeifa decries encroachment on NRC properties across the country 

— praises collaboration with Abia, Enugu govts.
Funso OLOJO, Editor 
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has reiterated his displeasure over the widespread practice of encroachment on the properties of the Nigerian Railways Corporation across the country, warning that such action would not be tolerated by his administration.
Opeifa was speaking during the separate meetings he recently had with the governments of both Abia and Enugu states.
Represented by the Railway District Manager, Eastern District, Mr. Agwonye Francis Ejike, the NRC boss quickly condemned the occupation of the Corporation’s right- of – way by squatters in Umuahia, while correcting the wrongly- held belief that the Railway is defunct.
Opeifa however applauded the cordial and collaborative relationship between the Corporation and the governments of both Abia and Enugu.
According to him, such productive harmony can only yield even greater positive results for the benefit of the people.
During the Umuahia meeting, Dr. Opeifa strongly praised the Abia State Government for its crucial assistance in clearing the NRC’s right-of-way within Umuahia.
 He reiterated unequivocally that no one is permitted to build any structure on railway property without obtaining express approval from his office.
Appealing directly to the public, he urged for greater patience, stressing that the plans for the critical track extension from Aba, through Umuahia to Enugu and beyond, remain very much on course.
Responding on behalf of the Abia State Government, Mr. Kingsley Agomoh stated that the State Government is actively engaging all stakeholders by providing alternative, seamless locations for those currently conducting business on the railway right-of-way.
 He further revealed that the state government has already finalized plans to plant trees along the route, creating a leisurely and aesthetically conducive environment for relaxation, replacing previous commercial activities.
The high-powered team then embarked on an extensive inspection of the alternative relocation site for displaced persons; the demolition site where iron barrier installation is progressing; the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal; the site for the new Umuahia Railway Station; and the route for the proposed link road passing through the existing railway station.
The meeting also explored the provision of a temporary location for the Railway Police and the PTO, pending the construction of the new Umuahia Station, which is designed to include a police station and other NRC offices.
The same impactful message was delivered to Enugu State, where the Commissioner of Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozoh (representing the State Government), equally assured the NRC MD of the Enugu State Government’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with the Corporation to achieve its aims and objectives.
Describing Dr. Opeifa as a personal friend from their private sector days, Dr. Ozoh lauded him as a leader who “knows perfectly well what he is doing.”
He further assured the NRC that the Enugu State Government will actively assist in demolishing any obstruction on the Corporation’s right-of-way, stressing that the state eagerly awaits the flag-off to recommence construction of the rail line from Aba to Enugu and beyond.
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