The Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Provisionary Committee of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG), Capt. Noah Ichaba has praised the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, over the recent launch and unveiling of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) Application Portal to be accessed by Nigerian ship-owners
In a statement issued by the Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo on Monday in Abuja, Capt. Ichaba, who described the official launch and unveiling as a historic step, urged the federal government to exercise maximum political will to expedite the establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard, which according to him, remains the longest-hope of Nigeria’s maritime business community.
“Coast Guard is the longest and singularly recognized agency by its organizational and occupational name, because, it will be primarily and wholly responsible for Nigeria’s Maritime Law Enforcement, Security and Safety Operations that have been neglected by past administrations despite its duties, functions and role, being crucial and critical to the Nigerian Maritime Business, particularly that, it will protect the flow of over 80-90% of global trade, prevent costly disruptions from piracy, terrorism, theft and safeguard billions in assets and human lives.
“The creation of Coast Guard is the next impending history that this current administration can not afford to allow it to slip off her performance scorecard. The establishment of Coast Guard is actually a primary and binding contract that the government owes her citizens and the maritime community due to its identity, purpose, and destiny.
“The need to create Coast Guard predates the Nigerian Maritime Business itself, but previous governments disappointed themselves by failing to do the needful. This obvious constraint limited and prevented fast, steady, and sustained progress for the Nigerian Maritime Domain.
“Glad that NIMASA came on-board and she is holding a pattern for Coast Guard as a Regulatory Agency, because, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) is directly linked to Coast Guard function which the Agency is performing in the absence of Coast Guard like responsibilities in maritime safety, security and statutory enforcement.
“The appreciative relationship between the CVFF and the Coast Guard function that NIMASA is saddled with is reflected in areas such as: Fund Administration and Regulatory Oversight (Coast Guard Function): Acting
regulatory and Coast Guard capacity, NIMASA administers the CVFF in accordance with the 2006 CVFF Guidelines under Section 44 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, 2003.
“This aims to build indigenous ship acquisition capacity and provide financial support to local operators for acquiring, constructing, and repairing vessels and including vetting applicants, approving eligible ship-owners, and ensuring that funds are used strictly for acquiring vessels intended for Cabotage trade, thereby strengthening national maritime capacity.
“NIMASA, in its Coast Guard-related enforcement role, collects the statutory 2% surcharge on contract sums performed by vessels engaged in coastal and inland shipping. This collection is enforced as part of its broader mandate to regulate and control maritime commercial activities within Nigerian waters.
“Vessels financed under the CVFF must comply with Cabotage requirements and NIMASA regulations, including Nigerian ownership, registration, manning, and technical specifications. As part of its Coast Guard role, NIMASA ensures that these vessels meet national safety, security, and seaworthiness standards before being allowed to operate.
“In its Coast Guard capacity, NIMASA conducts maritime surveillance, port state control and safety inspections to ensure that CVFF-funded vessels comply with international and national maritime safety and security conventions both before and after fund disbursement.
“Through its Cabotage Services and Maritime Safety departments, NIMASA enforces compliance with the Cabotage Act and other maritime laws, ensuring that only eligible, compliant, and properly secured vessels particularly those benefiting from the CVFF-operate within Nigerian coastal and inland waters.
“In essence, NIMASA, acting as Nigeria’s de facto Coast Guard and maritime regulatory authority, utilizes the CVFF not only as a financing mechanism but also as a policy and enforcement tool to strengthen indigenous shipping capacity, safeguard maritime security, and ensure strict compliance with national safety, security, and Cabotage regulations.
“On this commendable note, PC-NCG is inclined to crave the benevolence of relevant authorities to be deliberately committed to strategic steps for the immediate
establishment of Coast Guard, so as to solidify all efforts made and to concretely sustain envisaged outcome of repositioning of Nigeria’s maritime sector as a central pillar of national development, achieving the objective of diversifying national economy, unlocking the vast potential of Nigeria’s maritime domain, opening of opportunities for increased coastal resources and to draw huge benefits from inland waterways activities.
“Birthing the proposed Agency be considered an obligation to the Creator, the maritime environment, the lives involved, the vibrant entrepreneurial base, the global maritime commerce and the various platforms, equipment, installations, employments, tourism and Nigeria’s strategic geographic location and many more.
“The passionate appeal here is that, it is verily hoped that all levels of decision-making bodies choose to account their stewardship to the Ultimate Authority and Supreme Creator by setting aside repetitive, ridiculous and encumbering deductions, which are energy drainers, goal terminators, obstinate impediments and inducers of sickening breath,” Captain Ichaba maintained.
