**As other stakeholders say proposed outfit is a duplication of role of security agencies.
JONAS EZIEKE, Abuja
On Monday, the Nigerian Navy (NN) issued a strong statement dismissing the need for the establishment of the Nigeria Marine Corps, asserting that they are fully capable of fulfilling their mandate to protect and secure the nation’s territorial waters. This proclamation was made during a one-day public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, which convened at the National Assembly to discuss legislative measures surrounding maritime security. The session focused on a proposed bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigeria Marine Corps to Promote Maritime Security and for Related Matters,” which aims to create a new agency dedicated to enhancing the security of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
In an articulate defense of the Navy’s position, Rear Admiral E.O. Ferreira, representing Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, conveyed that the Navy is already engaged in a robust effort to tackle various forms of criminal activity prevalent in the maritime sector. He highlighted the Navy’s unswerving commitment to combatting challenges such as oil theft, rampant sea piracy, illegal refining of crude oil, and other related criminal endeavors that jeopardize maritime safety and economic stability. Ferreira expressed concern that the establishment of the proposed Marine Corps could generate confusion and create unnecessary competition among security agencies tasked with similar roles.
The public hearing, characterized as a strategic initiative by the House Committee on Navy, sought to foster an inclusive dialogue among various stakeholders involved in maritime security. Hon. Dr. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, the Chairman of the Committee, urged all invited parties to actively present their viewpoints and rich insights regarding the memoranda they had submitted before the hearing. This input would be instrumental for committee members to make well-informed decisions regarding the implications and potential impact of the proposed legislation on maritime security frameworks.
Further emphasizing the complications that could arise, stakeholders, including representatives from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency, and the Institute of Security Analysts of Nigeria, collectively expressed their opposition to the creation of the Nigeria Marine Corps. They voiced concerns that the introduction of a new agency would not only lead to an overlap in duties and responsibilities among established security forces but also dilute the efficacy of existing efforts to secure the country’s vast and strategically important maritime resources. This coalition of voices underscored the critical need for a cohesive approach to maritime security, one that maximizes the strengths of existing agencies rather than fragmenting maritime defense capabilities.
