Chukwu David 
…Says Law Empowers Coast Guards To Arrest Individuals, Ship Stealing Crude
The Director-General and Commandant of the Merchant Navy Corps, Allen Benson Edema, has said crude oil theft would continue in Nigeria unless the 10th National Assembly passed the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety Corps establishment bill.
Edema who stated this in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Monday evening, lamented that the proposed law had been rejected severally on the floors of both chambers since the 8th National Assembly.
He 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 Trawlers ships from the Philippines and other equipment from Holland for use in Nigeria”
Edema explained that the bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety Corps was introduced in the 8th Senate by the immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege but legislative activities could not be concluded on it.
He stated that the bill among others, sought 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 the confirmation of the Senate.
According to him, the board of the corps will be composed of representatives from the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Environment, Finance, Health, and Defence.
Others are the Nautical College of Nigeria, Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigeria Inland Water Ways Authority, and the Oil and Gas producing companies in Nigeria.
Operatives of the NMN Coast Guard Corps, according to the legislation, would monitor and protect the Nigerian territorial waters from pollution during shipbuilding in docks and in slip-ways and during construction of any maritime facilities.
They will also protect the Nigerian territorial waters from dumping, pollution by toxic waste poisons, chemicals, or any other elements that constitute risks to human and marine lives.
The corps is also saddled with the responsibility to monitor and control all government and commercial transport boats or any marine facilities 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 deports and various stations and locations.
It will also empower the corps to provide security for merchant vessels along seaports, ships on midstream anchorage, tug boats fishing trawlers, crafts, and passenger boats, among others.
Edema said that the Corps would also provide security for oil rigs, platforms, depots, loading and offloading jetties, container and cargo terminus, seaports, and any maritime and transportation facilities.
The NMN Coast Guard Corps, according to the Bill, will have powers to arrest any person or ship suspected of committing any offense in the Nigerian territorial waters.
Personnel of the corps will also assist the Nigerian Customs Service in rummaging vessels against illegal contraband goods, among other functions.
The Director-General said that the 9th Senate at its sitting on Wednesday, 30th June 2021, read the bill for the second time and referred the same to the relevant committees for necessary legislative actions.
He said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, when disturbed by the activities of oil crude oil thieves in the country, wrote a letter to the then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, seeking speedy work on the bill.
Specifically, he said, “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.”
