Nigerian Coast Guard Will Reduce, Not Increase Nigeria’s Maritime Spending Says PC-NCG

Nigerian Coast Guard Will Reduce, Not Increase Nigeria’s Maritime Spending Says PC-NCGThe Provisionary Committee for the Establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) says establishing a Nigerian Coast Guard would reduce, rather than increase, the Federal Government’s financial burden.In a statement on Monday, PC-NCG dismissed claims that creating the agency would impose additional costs on the government.The statement was signed by the Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, on behalf of the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, Capt. Noah Ichaba.According to the committee, Nigeria has financed coast guard functions for decades through multiple agencies with overlapping responsibilities and duplicated expenditures.It said maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, coastal surveillance, environmental protection, fisheries enforcement and port security are currently handled by different institutions.The committee added that the agencies maintain separate budgets, command structures, equipment, personnel and administrative systems despite performing similar maritime functions.”The issue is not whether Nigeria can afford a Coast Guard,” the statement said.”The real issue is whether Nigeria can continue paying for Coast Guard responsibilities through an inefficient and fragmented system.”PC-NCG identified agencies involved in overlapping maritime duties to include the Nigerian Navy, NIMASA, Marine Police, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigerian Ports Authority.It added that the government also spends billions of naira annually on private maritime security and surveillance contracts to address institutional gaps.According to the committee, the combined expenditure on overlapping operations and outsourced security is enough to establish and sustain a Nigerian Coast Guard.”It is our position that the amount currently spent in one year could fund the Coast Guard’s institutional and operational requirements for three to four years,” it stated.The committee said a unified Coast Guard would improve coordination, accountability, operational efficiency and value for public funds.It argued that the proposed agency would eliminate duplication, strengthen maritime governance and support the growth of Nigeria’s blue economy.PC-NCG also said the Coast Guard would create employment opportunities, generate revenue through statutory functions and enhance national security.”The Coast Guard does not necessarily require new funding,” the statement said.”It requires the reorganisation and rationalisation of funds already being spent across multiple agencies.”The committee maintained that the current arrangement encourages duplication, weakens accountability, fuels inter-agency rivalry and reduces operational effectiveness.It urged policymakers to focus on consolidating existing maritime expenditure into a single institution capable of delivering improved security, safety and governance across Nigeria’s maritime domain.It will be recalled that the Senate recently stepped down the bill and referred it to the Senate Committee on Maritime Security to address concerns on duplication of roles with existing agencies and funding sources.