By John Joseph
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A large crowd of activists, comprising youths and women from various parts of Nigeria, converged on the National Assembly in Abuja to express their strong opposition to the Coastal Guards Establishment Bill. The bill, sponsored by Senator Wasiu Eshilokun (APC-Lagos), aims to create a dedicated Nigerian Coast Guard responsible for securing Nigeria’s maritime zones.
However, stakeholders, including the Nigerian Navy, have opposed the bill, citing concerns that it would lead to the proliferation of armed forces in Nigeria, potentially escalating insecurity in the country. Civil society organizations (CSOs) have also argued that the bill is an attempt to amend the Nigerian Constitution through the backdoor by creating another arm of the Armed Forces.
The protesters, under the umbrella of Concerned Citizens of Nigeria, carried placards and banners with inscriptions such as “No to Coastal Guards Bill” and “Don’t Waste Our Resources.” They chanted slogans and sang songs, demanding that the National Assembly reject the bill.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Adamu Matazu emphasized that the Coastal Guards Bill is unnecessary and would only duplicate the functions of existing security agencies, such as the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Marine Police, and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). Matazu argued that the bill is a waste of resources and would create confusion and conflict among the various security agencies.
Matazu also pointed out that Nigeria’s security agencies are already highly rated and acclaimed internationally, and therefore, there is no need to establish a new agency. He urged the National Assembly to reject the bill and instead focus on strengthening and bolstering the functions and capacity of existing institutions.
The protesters’ concerns are centered around the potential consequences of establishing a new coastal guard, including:
The Coastal Guards Bill would duplicate the functions of existing security agencies, leading to confusion and conflict.
Establishing a new coastal guard would be a waste of resources, which could be better utilized to strengthen existing institutions.The bill would lead to the proliferation of armed forces in Nigeria, potentially escalating insecurity in the country.
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