Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi has said it’s high time the country set up a marine corps to cater for the vast maritime resources and growing insecurity.
This is even as the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and a coalition of civil society organisations rejected the bill.
Gagdi disclosed this on Monday at a public hearing organised by the Committee on the Nigerian Marine Corps Bill in Abuja.
He said establishing the Nigerian Marine Corps is a strategic initiative to enhance the country’s maritime prowess, protect our waters, and foster a secure environment for trade and economic growth.
According to the lawmaker, the bill represents a proactive step towards safeguarding our national interests and ensuring the safety of the coastal and marine environments.
He stressed the need for collaboration and dialogue in shaping the future of the nation’s maritime safety and security.
“Establishing the Nigerian Marine Corps is not merely a legislative effort but a strategic initiative to enhance our maritime prowess, protect our waters, and foster a secure environment for trade and economic growth.
“Given Nigeria’s vast maritime resources and the increasing threats to maritime security, this bill represents a proactive step towards safeguarding our national interests and ensuring the safety of our coastal and marine environments,” he said.
But speaking against the bill in their separate submissions, the Chief of Training & Operations of Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira; Coordinator, NIMASA, Abuja Zonal Office, Mrs. Moji Jimoh and Director, Legal Services, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Bala Saleh; underscored the need to strengthen the already existing agencies, rather than creating new ones, which could pose more security threats to the nation.
Also, a coalition of civil society groups urged the House to jettison the bill, saying it was unnecessary.
Those who spoke on behalf of the CSOs include, Abdullahi Bilal, Spokesman for Security Analysts & Research Forum in Africa; Okwa Daniel, Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice, Equity & Transparency; Daniel Momoh Prince, National President, Nigerian Unemployed Youth Association; Igwe Ude-Umanta, Convener, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations on Economic Watch; Opialu Fabian, Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights & Advocacy in Africa Network; amongst others.
Earlier Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said the hearing represents another step in the shared commitment to the democratic process and collective resolve to advance the security, stability, and prosperity of our great nation.
He said the focus on marine intervention is firmly rooted in the legislative agenda of the 10th House of Representatives, particularly in our goals of Economic Diversification and Agricultural Development.
“Central to these goals is the exploration and sustainable development of the Blue Economy. This aligns closely with our commitment to addressing Climate Change and promoting Environmental Sustainability.
“Today’s hearing, however, centres specifically on maritime security—an essential pillar for harnessing the full potential of Nigeria’s maritime sector. The proposed bill seeks to establish a Nigerian Marine Corps to safeguard national maritime and related infrastructures, protect our territorial waters and coastal lands, and enhance security mechanisms within Nigeria’s maritime domain”.
