By Ada Nkong
The Minister of Marine and Blue economy Adegboyega Oyetola says there is a need for a dedicated security force to safeguard Nigeria’s Maritime resources as a pathway to maximizing the economic gains from the blue economy.
Oyetola stated this at the public hearing organized by the Senate committee on Maritime and Blue economy Thursday at the national assembly.
According to the Minister, the coast guard is necessary to compliment the efforts of the Navy and will enhance dealing with challenges like piracy, oil theft, kidnapping and illegal fishing.
The Senate president Godswill Akpabio represented by Sen Akintunde Yunus while declaring the hearing open said the establishment of the Coast guard is necessary to promote Nigeria’s economic interest like some other countries have done. While the NBA committee on Maritime agreed with that position, they called for modifications in the bill like a reduction in the number of the board and scrapping the call for the chairman to be a retired Navy officer.
However, the Chief of Naval staff Vice admiral Emmanuel Ogalla represented by Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira on his part sought to know what role the coast guard would play that the Navy could not, saying the creation was unnecessary as it would lead to spending scarce resources, contravene the act establishing the Navy and promote redundancy, a position shared by Sen. Adams Oshiomhole.
The first reading of the bill was on October 3 and second reading October 15 before it was refered to the Senate committee on Marine and Blue economy.
NewsAnnexOnline 