Nigeria to Establish Coast Guard to Enhance Maritime Security
In an effort to enhance security in its maritime territory, the Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled its intentions to establish a coast guard. The announcement was made by Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, during bilateral discussions with ministers and representatives from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Brazil, and Jamaica at the 33rd General Assembly session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London.
Ismail Omipidan, the minister’s media aide, highlighted that Nigeria aims to gain insights from the expertise and experiences of other nations before establishing its coast guard. Oyetola expressed Nigeria’s interest in understanding and adopting the operational strategies of the Brazilian coast guards during discussions with Adm José Augusto V. da Cunha de Menezes, Brazilian Chief of the Navy’s General Staff.
The minister also emphasized Nigeria’s focus on various sectors such as Marine Renewable Energy, Marine Mining, Subsea Cabling and Piping, Marine Genetics, and Biotechnology to promote the marine and blue economy. Additionally, he stressed the necessity to bolster security architecture within the maritime space, hence the consideration to establish Coast Guards as a complement to the existing security framework.
Oyetola also underscored the importance of technology and innovation in transforming the maritime sector, noting their crucial role in enhancing Nigeria’s trade and investment prospects within the Marine and Blue Economy. He stated that advanced marine technologies and innovations in maritime logistics and smart logistics solutions would significantly enhance the efficiency and sustainability of maritime transport and port operations, thus improving the global competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
Furthermore, during the meeting, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria expressed their mutual desire to formalize their collaboration and partnership in the maritime space by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
In conclusion, Nigeria’s initiative to establish a coast guard is a proactive measure to protect its maritime interests and ensure the security of its waterways. As Nigeria seeks to learn from the experiences of other nations and strengthen partnerships, it is evident that the country is dedicated to advancing its maritime sector and upholding maritime security for the benefit of the nation and the global community.
