The Provisional Committee of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, for the launch and unveiling of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) Application Portal for Nigerian shipowners.
The Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of PC-NCG, Capt. Noah Ichaba, described the development as a historic milestone capable of strengthening indigenous shipping and revitalising Nigeria’s maritime sector.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, Capt. Ichaba urged the Federal Government to demonstrate strong political will towards the immediate establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard, which he described as a long-standing expectation of Nigeria’s maritime business community.
According to him, the Coast Guard remains the singularly recognised agency, by organisational and operational mandate, responsible for maritime law enforcement, safety and security—critical functions that have suffered neglect over the years.
“The Coast Guard will be primarily and wholly responsible for Nigeria’s maritime law enforcement, security and safety operations. These functions are crucial to maritime business, particularly in protecting the flow of over 80–90 per cent of global trade, preventing costly disruptions from piracy, terrorism and theft, and safeguarding billions of dollars in assets and human lives,” Ichaba said.
He stressed that the establishment of the Coast Guard should be a priority on the performance scorecard of the current administration, describing it as a binding obligation owed by government to citizens and the maritime community.
“The need for a Coast Guard predates the Nigerian maritime business itself, yet successive administrations failed to take decisive action. This gap has constrained the fast, steady and sustained development of Nigeria’s maritime domain,” he noted.
Capt. Ichaba further observed that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been performing Coast Guard-like functions in the absence of a dedicated agency, particularly in relation to the administration of the CVFF.
He explained that under Section 44 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, 2003, and the 2006 CVFF Guidelines, NIMASA administers the fund, vets applicants, approves eligible shipowners and ensures that disbursed funds are used strictly for vessel acquisition and operations in cabotage trade.
He added that NIMASA also enforces the statutory two per cent surcharge on contracts executed by vessels operating in coastal and inland waters, ensures compliance with cabotage requirements on ownership, registration and manning, and conducts maritime surveillance, port state control and safety inspections on CVFF-funded vessels.
“In essence, NIMASA, acting as Nigeria’s de facto Coast Guard and maritime regulatory authority, deploys the CVFF not just as a financing mechanism, but also as a policy and enforcement tool to strengthen indigenous shipping capacity and maritime security,” he said.
Capt. Ichaba called on relevant authorities to take deliberate and strategic steps towards establishing the Nigerian Coast Guard, noting that such action would consolidate ongoing reforms in the maritime sector, support economic diversification, unlock the vast potential of coastal and inland waterways, and enhance Nigeria’s strategic maritime advantage.
“The establishment of the Coast Guard should be seen as an obligation to humanity, the maritime environment, global commerce and national development. It is hoped that decision-makers will rise above bureaucratic bottlenecks and take decisive action in the overall interest of the nation,” he added.
About Author
