The Provisionary Committee for the establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG), has submitted a comprehensive roadmap to achieve five million ocean-based jobs, enhanced maritime security, and sustainable marine resources.
The submission aligns with the commitment made by President Bola Tinubu, at the just-concluded Our Ocean Conference, OOC11, in Mombasa, Kenya.
Key Highlights:
- The PC-NCG submitted a roadmap to create five million ocean-based jobs by 2035.
- The plan supports Bola Tinubu‘s blue economy agenda.
- It calls for establishing a Nigerian Coast Guard.
- The roadmap aims to boost maritime security and protect marine resources.
- It says a Coast Guard is key to achieving the government’s maritime goals.
In an open letter to the president, Capt. Noah Ichaba, Chief Executive Officer of PC-NCG, described Nigeria’s 2035 pledge to create five million ocean-based jobs, strengthen ocean governance, advance the blue economy, protect marine resources, enhance maritime security, and safeguard coastal communities as a bold and timely step in the right direction.
“The president’s declaration at the conference inspired hope across the maritime sector,” Capt. Ichaba stated.
“It affirmed what we have long known: that Nigeria’s future prosperity lies not only beneath our soil, but in the vast wealth of our oceans, waterways, fisheries, ports, and coastal ecosystems.
“Mr. President, Nigeria has made commendable progress on maritime security through the Navy, regulators, and partner agencies,” he noted.
“Yet, a critical institutional gap remains: the absence of a Nigerian Coast Guard.”
He explained that the roadmap is designed to translate the president’s vision into measurable outcomes.
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“The PC-NCG is presenting a globally credible roadmap to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s maritime domain, create millions of jobs, strengthen national security, attract investment, and build a competitive blue economy.”
“Millions of sustainable ocean-based jobs cannot be created where the institution designed to regulate, protect, facilitate, and power maritime economic activity does not exist,” Capt. Ichaba added.
“Your administration’s target of five million ocean-based jobs by 2035 is achievable, but only with the right enabling framework,” he said.
Capt. Ichaba outlined the operational value of a Coast Guard as a specialized, non-military service for maritime law enforcement, safety, environmental protection, and humanitarian response.
He noted that while the navy focuses on national defence, the Coast Guard delivers continuous attention to law enforcement, coastal security, environmental protection, search and rescue, fisheries protection, maritime safety, and humanitarian response.
