5 CSOs Reject Coastal Guards Bill

Five civil society organisations have rejected the Nigerian Coast Guard Bill before the National Assembly, describing it as anti-Nigerian.

The Coalition in Support of National Security Advancement (CSNSA), at a world press conference in Abuja, said the bill is an attempt to amend the constitution through the backdoor by creating another arm of the Armed Forces.

The groups raised concerns over national security, economic implications and constitutional conflicts.

In a joint address by Okwa Dan and Bilal Abdulahi, the coalition also highlighted the economic burden of establishing a Coast Guard, which would require significant funding and potentially divert resources from the Nigerian Navy.

Furthermore, the CSNSA emphasised constitutional issues, noting that the proposed Coast Guard contradicts Section 217 of the Nigerian Constitution, which recognises only the Army, Navy, and Air Force as branches of the Armed Forces.

Instead, the CSNSA proposed strengthening the Nigerian Navy and establishing a civilian-controlled maritime agency to handle non-military duties.

While urging the National Assembly to discard the bill, the groups said the legislation was not in the best interest of citizens; hence, the sponsors must apologise.

“We call upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly leadership to carefully consider the demands of our country’s present security, economic realities, and constitutional obligations. Several important issues have been brought to light by our thorough analysis of the Coast Guard Bill and observations from regional and global perspectives,” the statement said.

“However, the Nigerian Navy’s function and responsibility overlap is one of the main problems. It is noteworthy that International acclaim has been given to the Nigerian Navy for its successful management of marine security, which includes law enforcement, counter-piracy, and hydrographic services.

“Moreover, establishing a new Coast Guard can lead to potential jurisdictional conflicts and operational inefficiencies; examples from the US, UK, and South Africa show how different duties might prevent such overlaps. Nigeria’s unique resources and structure, however, don’t seem well adapted to implementing this distinct strategy exemplified by these countries, considering Nigeria’s present effort in stabilising the economy.

“The proposed Coast Guard Bill has been observed to bring up command organisation and constitutionality issues. The Nigerian Constitution’s Section 217 recognises only the Army, Navy, and Air Force as branches of the Armed Forces.

“Thus, creating a second military duty would necessitate constitutional amendments and could create legal ambiguities. Unity of command is essential during emergencies, and military service under a civilian ministry may make this more difficult.

“Furthermore, we discovered that Nigeria’s economic constraints exacerbate the cost of building a Coast Guard. To put it in perspective, the U.S. Coast Guard spends more than $13 billion a year. A more effective and long-term option would be to use these funds to bolster the Nigerian Navy.

“Additionally, the Coalition in Support of National Security and Advancement believes that the proposed Coast Guard under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy would create a complex administrative structure that could lead to inefficiencies.

“Each agency is addressing specific security requirements that might not fit into a single framework, and thus operational inefficiencies may also result from the Coast Guard’s administrative complexity when placed under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

“Under the Ministry of Defense, military services typically need a rigid chain of command. A civilian-led command structure for a military service could result in contradictory orders, compromising Nigeria’s ability to respond to security threats promptly. Rather than strengthening security, the Coast Guard, as proposed, may exacerbate threats.

“Given these worries, we humbly request that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly consider increasing support for the Nigerian Navy, which would be a practical way to improve maritime security without adding more red tape.

“Secondly, Nigeria would be able to handle non-military duties more effectively, openly, and responsibly if civilian control for non-military maritime functions were given priority. For a better replacement for establishing a Military Coast Guard, Nigeria might set up a civilian-run organisation to manage tasks like environmental protection, customs enforcement, and search and rescue.

“In addition to avoiding duplication of Navy operations, this strategy would align with global best practices. Finally, it is crucial to adhere to constitutional limits by ensuring that any reorganisation of Nigeria’s maritime security does not conflict with the 1999 Constitution.”