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The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Mr Philip Agbese, along with other federal lawmakers, the Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, among others, have rejected a bill seeking the establishment of the Nigerian Marine Corps.
They expressed their concerns during a public hearing held by the House Committee on Navy on Monday.
The bill aims to promote maritime security and enhance the safety of Nigeria’s blue economy.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Marine Corps to Promote Maritime Security,” the proposed law was sponsored by Cross River lawmaker Alex Egbona.
It passed a second reading on the House floor on Thursday, November 30, 2023, and was referred to the House Committee on Navy for further legislative action.
Speaking to journalists, Agbese explained that the bill seeks to create a new federal agency tasked with maritime law enforcement and defence responsibilities, traditionally managed by the Nigerian Navy and other existing agencies, such as NIMASA.
According to Agbese, this would result in a duplication of functions, which would be counterproductive.
On behalf of 66 other lawmakers, Agbese emphasised that it was their duty to critically examine the bill to ensure its provisions align with national interests.
“Acting under the mandate to promote efficient governance and resource management, we hereby call for the total and complete rejection of the bill proposing the establishment of the Nigerian Marine Corps.
“It is our contention, as members of this legislative body, that the creation of this new entity would only lead to significant overlap, redundancy, and logistical strain, creating operational inefficiencies and imposing unwarranted financial demands on the government.
“The proposed Act outlines the creation of a maritime enforcement agency charged with enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of federal laws on, under, and over Nigeria’s high seas and other waterways, including the exclusive economic zone. This proposed body raises multiple operational, economic, and strategic concerns, particularly in the areas of jurisdictional conflicts, wartime readiness, legal authority, and environmental management.
“We have thoroughly examined this bill and its objectives, and we assert that the establishment of a Nigerian Marine Corps is both redundant and counterproductive, given the existing roles, mandates, and capacities of the Nigerian Navy and other maritime agencies.”
Also speaking, the Nigeria Police Force described the bill as ill-advised, stressing that it would not only duplicate duties currently handled by part of the Force but could also lead to the proliferation of maritime security outfits.
“The proposed Nigerian Marine Corps, while well-intentioned, has the potential to create more problems than it solves. A more prudent approach would be to strengthen existing agencies and optimise their capabilities to ensure effective maritime security.
“By streamlining existing structures and fostering inter-agency cooperation, Nigeria can enhance its maritime security capabilities without incurring unnecessary costs or creating additional bureaucratic hurdles,” said Superintendent of Police Nandom Vongjen, who represented the Nigeria Police Force.
In their separate submissions, the Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira; the Coordinator of NIMASA, Abuja Zonal Office, Mrs Moji Jimoh; and the Director of Legal Services, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr Bala Saleh, emphasised the need to strengthen existing agencies rather than create new ones that could pose additional security threats to the nation.
All the members of the civil society organisations who attended the public hearing spoke against the bill, describing it as unnecessary.
The CSO representatives included Abdullahi Bilal, Spokesman for the Security Analysts and Research Forum in Africa; Okwa Daniel, Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice, Equity, and Transparency; Daneshi Momoh, National President, Nigerian Unemployed Youth Association; and Igwe Ude-Umanta, Convener, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations on Economic Watch.
While adjourning the hearing, the Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Gadgi, assured Nigerians that due diligence would be carried out in the legislative process, saying that the Committee was impartial and would not take sides in its work.
