Lawmakers, police, others reject Marine Corps bill
The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Mr. Philip Agbese, together with other federal legislators, representatives from the Nigerian Navy, and officials from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, among others, have opposed a bill aimed at establishing the Nigerian Marine Corps.
They voiced their apprehensions during a public hearing conducted by the House Committee on Navy on Monday.
The proposed legislation is designed to enhance maritime security and improve the safety of Nigeria's blue economy.
Titled "A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Marine Corps to Promote Maritime Security," the bill was introduced by Cross River lawmaker Alex Egbona.
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It successfully passed a second reading in the House on Thursday, November 30, 2023, and was assigned to the House Committee on Navy for additional legislative review.
In remarks to reporters, Agbese clarified that the bill aims to create a new federal agency responsible for maritime law enforcement and defense duties, responsibilities that are currently handled by the Nigerian Navy and other existing bodies like NIMASA.
Agbese pointed out that this would lead to a duplication of functions, which could be counterproductive.
Representing 66 other lawmakers, Agbese stressed the necessity of carefully assessing the bill to guarantee that its provisions align with national interests.
"Under our mandate to promote efficient governance and resource management, we call for the complete rejection of the bill proposing the establishment of the Nigerian Marine Corps.
"It is our belief, as members of this legislative body, that creating this new entity would only lead to significant overlap, redundancy, and logistical challenges, resulting in operational inefficiencies and unwarranted financial burdens on the government.
"The proposed Act outlines the formation of a maritime enforcement agency tasked with enforcing or aiding in the enforcement of federal laws on, under, and over Nigeria's high seas and other waterways, including the exclusive economic zone. This suggested body raises numerous operational, economic, and strategic issues, particularly concerning jurisdictional conflicts, wartime preparedness, legal authority, and environmental management.
"We have thoroughly evaluated this bill and its goals, and we assert that the establishment of a Nigerian Marine Corps is both redundant and counterproductive given the existing roles, mandates, and capabilities of the Nigerian Navy and other maritime authorities."
Additionally, the Nigeria Police Force characterized the bill as misguided, emphasizing that it would not only duplicate responsibilities currently handled by parts of the Force but could also trigger the emergence of more maritime security organizations.
"The proposed Nigerian Marine Corps, despite good intentions, risks creating more issues than it resolves. A wiser course would be to enhance the capabilities of current agencies and optimize their functions to ensure effective maritime security.
"By refining existing structures and promoting inter-agency collaboration, Nigeria can boost its maritime security abilities without incurring unnecessary expenses or establishing extra bureaucratic obstacles," stated Superintendent of Police Nandom Vongjen, who represented the Nigeria Police Force.
In their individual contributions, the Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira; the Coordinator of NIMASA, Abuja Zonal Office, Mrs. Moji Jimoh; and the Director of Legal Services of the Nigerian Shippers' Council, Mr. Bala Saleh, stressed the importance of reinforcing existing agencies instead of creating new ones that could introduce additional security risks to the country.
All members of the civil society organizations present at the public hearing voiced their opposition to the bill, labeling it as unnecessary.
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