Captain Noah Ichaba commends Senate, urges final passage of bill to secure blue economy

The Provisionary Committee of the proposed Nigeria Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has commended the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the significant progress recorded on the Nigeria Coast Guard Establishment Bill, particularly the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, describing it as a major legislative milestone toward strengthening Nigeria’s maritime governance.

In a statement issued by the Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, on behalf of the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of PCNCG, Captain Noah Ichaba, the Committee noted that the Bill has successfully progressed through critical legislative stages and is now at an advanced stage, awaiting final passage by the Senate.

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The PC-NCG observed that although the Senate Committee laid its report on Bill before the Senate for consideration on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, the Senate, in its characteristic commitment to thorough law-making, stepped it down to allow further consultations and provide additional clarity on the respective roles, responsibilities and funding framework of the proposed Nigeria Coast Guard in relation to the Nigerian Navy and the Marine Police.

According to the Committee, this demonstrates the Senate’s determination to produce a comprehensive and effective law capable of strengthening maritime security without institutional overlap.

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While appreciating the Senate’s diligence, the PC-NCG appealed for the timely conclusion of the legislative process, stressing that the establishment of the Nigeria Coast Guard has become imperative to safeguarding Nigeria’s Blue Economy, protecting lives and property at sea, and unlocking the nation’s vast maritime economic potential.

While the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, 2019, provided Nigeria with a robust legal framework against piracy and other maritime crimes, what the nation now urgently requires is a dedicated institution to effectively enforce those laws, Captain Ichaba stated.

The Nigeria Coast Guard Establishment Bill, SB. 575, will create that specialized civilian maritime law enforcement agency responsible for search and rescue, marine environmental protection, fisheries enforcement and other non-military maritime security functions, thereby enabling the Nigerian Navy to concentrate on its constitutional defence responsibilities while the Coast Guard secures Nigeria’s economic waters.

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