Senate Suspends Coast Guard Bill, Seeks Wider Consultations.

The Senate has suspended further legislative action on a bill seeking to establish a Nigerian Coast Guard, citing concerns over possible duplication of the responsibilities of existing maritime security agencies.

The decision was taken during plenary on Wednesday after lawmakers debated the bill, which had already passed through committee scrutiny and was awaiting final passage.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said some lawmakers were concerned that establishing another maritime security agency without a clearly defined mandate could create jurisdictional conflicts with the Nigerian Navy and the Marine Police.

He said the Senate would consider strengthening existing institutions unless the proposed Coast Guard’s responsibilities were clearly separated from those of agencies already operating in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Akpabio, however, stressed that the Senate had not abandoned the bill but stepped it down to allow for wider consultations and further refinement before its return for consideration.

Sponsored by Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun, the bill seeks to establish a specialised maritime security agency under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to improve safety on Nigeria’s waterways, protect maritime assets, combat illegal fishing and support law enforcement in the country’s coastal environment.

Presenting the committee’s report, Eshinlokun said stakeholders at the public hearing strongly supported the establishment of the Coast Guard, describing it as essential to improving maritime governance and unlocking the economic potential of Nigeria’s blue economy.

He said amendments had been made to address concerns over duplication by defining the proposed Coast Guard as a specialised civilian maritime security institution, with responsibilities covering maritime safety, commercial shipping, cargo operations and other civilian activities within Nigeria’s territorial waters.

The lawmaker maintained that the agency would complement existing security organisations by improving inter agency coordination, strengthening maritime safety and boosting investor confidence.

Despite the assurances, the Senate resolved to conduct further consultations before making a final decision on the bill, stressing the need to prevent institutional overlap while improving security and economic activities in Nigeria’s maritime sector.