The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has rejected proposals for the creation of a separate coast guard, describing it as unnecessary and counterproductive.
Speaking during his Senate screening, Abbas said the Nigerian Navy already performs coast guard duties, and establishing another agency would amount to duplicating functions.
“We don’t need a separate Coast Guard because the Nigerian Navy already performs those functions. Creating another agency would only duplicate efforts. It’s better to channel those funds toward boosting naval operations,” he told the lawmakers.
He disclosed that the Navy had established a Special Operations Command in Makurdi, Benue State, to strengthen security along inland waterways linking Benue and Lokoja, as part of efforts to secure the country’s internal maritime routes.
Abbas outlined plans to integrate advanced technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence (AI) into naval operations to combat oil theft, piracy, and other maritime crimes. According to him, the use of technology will modernise surveillance, reduce fuel costs, and enhance operational efficiency in hard-to-reach areas, particularly in the Niger Delta and coastal regions.
“We will incorporate more technology, including the use of drones, to tackle maritime crime,” he said. “A lot of resources are currently wasted fueling boats to reach remote areas. Technology will help us respond faster and more effectively.”
He explained that AI-driven surveillance systems would complement traditional patrols, providing a more cost-effective and efficient framework for maritime security.
Abbas noted that the Navy had made progress in curbing the use of offshore tankers for transporting stolen crude and was implementing digital tracking systems to monitor suspicious vessel movements. He said most oil theft occurs in remote creeks and coastal areas, where cumulative losses are substantial despite individual thefts appearing small.
Commenting on the military’s deradicalisation programme, Abbas described it as commendable but urged authorities to consider the feelings of victims’ families before granting amnesty to repentant criminals.
“Deradicalising repentant criminals is a good idea, but we must also think of the moral burden. Families who lost loved ones to these criminals should be consulted before amnesty is granted,” he said.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to its Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy, which addresses a wide range of maritime security challenges, including piracy, oil theft, smuggling, and kidnapping.
“The challenges we face cannot be solved by the military alone,” Abbas added. “It requires a whole-of-society approach. We must synergise across the armed forces and with civil institutions to make Nigeria safer.”
