The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi, says the bill seeking the establishment of a marine corps will enhance security in the nation’s maritime industry, given its vast resources and the increasing threats to maritime security.
Mr. Gagdi, who stated this at a public hearing on the Nigerian Marine Corps Bill I’m Abuja, explained that establishing the Nigerian Marine Corps is a strategic initiative aimed at boosting the country’s maritime capabilities and fostering a secure environment for trade and economic growth.
The Speaker of the House, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the House Majority Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, noted that the proposed bill, when passed, would help safeguard Nigeria’s national maritime and related infrastructures.
In their separate submissions, representatives of the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira and Mrs. Moji Jimoh, emphasized the importance of strengthening existing agencies rather than creating new ones, which could potentially increase security challenges.
Members of Civil Society Organisations who attended the public hearing described the bill as unnecessary and urged the House to reject it during the third reading.
