Retired Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba, former Chief of the Naval Staff, has raised concerns over the proposed Coast Guard bill, warning that its duplication of the Nigerian Navy’s functions could lead to confusion, conflicts, and a weakened maritime security framework.
During an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Ezeoba voiced his concerns, emphasising that the bill suffers from significant flaws.
He argued that the policies outlined in the bill do not address specific maritime challenges and could create more problems.
“I doubt if a proper gap analysis was done,” Ezeoba remarked, adding that the Coast Guard’s responsibilities, as outlined in the bill, mirror those of the Nigerian Navy, making its creation redundant.
“The bill, in part, if you take part 1, articles 2(a-i) of the bill, which clearly enunciates the responsibilities and duties of the Coast Guard as it would be if established are clear duplications of the functions of the Nigerian Navy as we speak,” he stated.
Furthermore, the retired Admiral warned that such duplication would lead to conflicts between agencies and a lack of trust, further straining the already overburdened armed forces.
“What it implies is complete anarchy in the maritime space,” he stated, suggesting that instead of providing a solution, the bill would exacerbate existing issues and cause confusion in a sector that is already facing multiple challenges.
“Every entity, as it were, in that space, will be competing to secure and make themselves more relevant in that space,” he added.
Additionally, Ezeoba argued that the resources and efforts currently directed towards the bill would be better spent consolidating and strengthening the Nigerian Navy’s existing capabilities, ensuring a more effective and coordinated approach to maritime security in the country.
Echoing his concerns, Mfon Usoro, pioneer Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, focused on the bill’s flawed process and lack of clarity.
“How is a branch of the armed forces established in our country?” she asked, emphasising that such a decision should be driven by a cohesive, coordinated policy-making process.
“It accentuates the lack of coordinated cohesive policy-making process,” Usoro emphasised.
The maritime expert pointed out several technical issues with the bill, including the unclear relationship between the Coast Guard’s leadership and the Nigerian Navy.
She questioned, “This bill is really not well thought of because how will the Marshall, the head of the coast guard who is supposed to be a serving naval officer report to a civilian ministry?
“What happens to the commander of control where his primary employment is which is in the Nigerian Navy? There are lots of things, technically, that are not clear.”
Both experts agreed that a more sensible approach would be to strengthen the existing Nigerian Navy rather than create a parallel institution that could waste resources and energy.
The bill, which passed its second reading in the Senate last month, seeks to establish a new military branch tasked with securing Nigeria’s maritime zones and supporting the Nigerian Navy during wartime. However, critics argue that it duplicates existing functions and lacks proper coordination, potentially hindering Nigeria’s maritime security rather than improving it.
Frances Ibiefo
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