ABUJA, Nigeria (CHATNEWSTV) — More than 1,000 protesters, including youth and women from across Nigeria, gathered at the National Assembly on Thursday to oppose the proposed Coastal Guards Establishment Bill, labeling it a waste of resources and a duplication of existing agencies’ roles.
Under the banner of Concerned Citizens of Nigeria, the demonstrators carried placards reading “No to Coastal Guards Bill” and “Don’t Waste Our Resources,” chanting slogans and demanding that lawmakers kill the bill immediately.
Kabir Adamu Matazu, spokesperson for the group, said the Coastal Guards Bill is unnecessary, arguing it would replicate the responsibilities of established institutions like the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Marine Police, and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
“This bill does not address any fundamental problems in Nigeria,” Matazu said.
“Instead, it embarks on a needless adventure that will only provoke jurisdictional conflicts and operational inefficiencies.”
Matazu detailed how the bill could create overlaps with existing agencies, particularly in maritime security, hydrography, and the training of seafarers. He emphasized that current bodies, such as the Navy and NIWA, already manage these roles effectively.
“For instance, what will become of the Merchant Shipping Act and NIMASA Act if the Coastal Guards take on similar functions? This duplication will only breed inefficiencies,” Matazu said, warning it could lead to operational chaos.
The group also criticized the potential impact on Nigeria’s recently improved maritime security. They warned that creating a new agency could reverse the country’s removal from the Maritime Piracy Index in 2022.
“This bill, if passed, will complicate coordination in the maritime sector, undermine cohesion, and create unnecessary competition, which criminal elements could exploit,” Matazu said.
The protesters urged the government to focus on strengthening existing institutions rather than creating new ones. They called for investments in addressing critical issues like education, healthcare, and infrastructure, instead of pursuing what they described as “a voyage of adventurism.”
“It is in the interest of democracy, economic stability, and our children’s future to reject this bill outright.”
“Nigeria does not need a Coastal Guard,” Matazu declared.
