The Director General and Commandant of the Merchant Navy Corps, Allen Benson Edema, yesterday urged the 10th National Assembly to pass the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety Corps Establishment Bill to end crude oil theft in the country.
Edema said this while addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja.
The commandant recalled that the Bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety Corps was introduced in the Eighth Senate by former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege but legislative action could not be concluded on it.
Edema said the Bill, among others, seeks the creation of the Coast Guard Corps whose director general shall also be the Commandant and Chief Executive Officer appointed by the President, subject to confirmation of the Senate.
The board of the corps, the commandant said, would have representatives from the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Environment, Finance, Health, and Defence.
Others are; Nautical College of Nigeria, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the oil and gas producing companies in Nigeria.
Operatives of the NMN Coast Guard Corps, according to the proposed legislation, would monitor and protect the nation’s territorial waters from pollution during ship building in docks and in slipways and during construction of any maritime facility.
They will also protect the Nigerian territorial waters from dumping, pollution by toxic waste poisons, chemical or any other elements that constitute risks to human and marine lives.
The corps will also monitor and control all government and commercial transport boats or any marines facility operating in the maritime offshore and onshore environment, and also ensure safety.
The corps will also monitor petroleum products loading and offloading activities of marketers and distributors for proper efficient distribution to depots, stations, and locations.
The Bill also empowers the corps to provide security for merchant vessels along seaports, ships on midstream anchorage, tug boats, fishing trawlers, crafts, passenger boats, among others.
Edema said,
“In preparation for its take-off, the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety Corps has proposed the floating of 10 merchant ships and 45 fishing trawler ships from Philippines and other equipment from Holland for use in Nigeria.”
The NMN Coast Guard Corps, according to the Bill, will have powers to arrest any person or ship suspected to have committed any offence in the Nigerian territorial waters.
Personnel of the corps would assist the Nigerian Customs Service in rummage vessels against illegal contraband, among other functions.
The commandant recalled that at its sitting on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, the Ninth Senate read the Bill for the second time and referred it to relevant committees for necessary legislative actions.
he added that the last administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, following the disturbing activities of crude oil thieves in the country, wrote a letter to the then Senate President Ahmad Lawan, seeking speedy work on the Bill.
Edema added,
“On May 17, 2023, the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), wrote a letter, titled: “Passage of Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety Corps (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 591)”, to the Senate President. and it reads: “I have the honour to convey my sincere appreciation and compliments.
“Under the existing legislative law of the Federation of Nigeria (Merchant Shipping Act) 1962, for the enforcement of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, I hereby appeal for the immediate passage of the ‘Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety Corps (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 591)’ into law.
“Please, accept the consideration of my highest regards.”
