The Provisionary Committee for the Establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) says Nigeria can no longer afford to delay the passage of the Nigerian Coast Guard Bill.

The committee said the bill, recently stepped down at its third reading in the Senate, remained a critical national investment for maritime security and economic development.

This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, the committee’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, on behalf of its Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, Capt. Noah Ichaba.

The committee said the proposed legislation was essential to securing Nigeria’s inland and coastal waterways, attracting blue economy investments and creating jobs for young Nigerians.

It urged stakeholders not to be discouraged by concerns over funding and possible duplication of existing agencies.

According to the committee, consultations and public debate on the financial implications of establishing the Coast Guard should not generate unnecessary fears.

It said existing local and international funding sources already supporting agencies performing coast guard-related duties could be restructured to finance the proposed institution.

Ichaba said the debate should focus on the consequences of operating without a dedicated Coast Guard rather than the cost of establishing one.

“A Coast Guard should not be viewed merely as another public institution requiring funding. It should be understood as a strategic national investment in maritime safety, security, economic resilience, environmental protection and the preservation of human life,” he said.

He said Nigeria continued to bear the cost of maritime insecurity, fragmented emergency response, illegal exploitation of marine resources, environmental degradation and missed opportunities in the blue economy.

According to him, those challenges affect government, coastal communities, investors, industries and citizens.

The committee also dismissed claims that the proposed Coast Guard would duplicate the responsibilities of existing maritime agencies.

It said every effective maritime nation rested on four pillars: maritime defence, maritime administration, port management and maritime law enforcement.

According to the committee, while Nigeria has strengthened the first three pillars, maritime law enforcement through a dedicated Coast Guard remains the missing link.

It said the proposed Coast Guard would provide specialised civilian services in search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, environmental protection, fisheries enforcement, waterway safety and coordinated emergency response.

The committee added that the arrangement would enable the Nigerian Navy to concentrate on its constitutional defence responsibilities.

It said countries with significant maritime interests established specialised coast guards because preventing maritime crises was more cost-effective than responding to them.

The committee urged the National Assembly, the Executive, maritime stakeholders and Nigerians to support the bill in the interest of national development.

It maintained that establishing a Coast Guard would strengthen institutions, improve maritime security and unlock the country’s blue economy potential.

“The true cost lies not in establishing a Coast Guard, but in allowing avoidable institutional gaps to persist year after year,” the statement added.

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