Nigeria loses $100b yearly to maritime insecurity, says don 

Nigeria is losing over $100 billion yearly to lack of security presence in over 98 per cent of the country’s 853-kilometre coastline.

The Dean of Faculty at City University, Cambodia, and Anti-piracy Security Head at Trident Group America Inc., Prof Alfred Oniye, who disclosed this, told The Guardian that out of roughly 10,000 navigable waterways, less than 2,000 are effectively monitored by the Nigerian Navy.

Oniye noted that the Nigerian Navy, which is critical to the nation’s defence, was overstretched and unable to adequately cover both territorial and inland waters.

He pointed out that agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) had their domain awareness systems, but could not fully address the growing threats.

Oniye emphasised the danger posed by the backwaters, describing them as a “harbour for criminals.”

According to him, while the Navy is busy with high-level territorial defence, criminals exploit the lack of presence in inland waterways and coastal regions to carry out illegal activities.

“I can categorically tell you that what Nigeria is losing, presently, in this water, is over $100 billion yearly. And I can give you a breakdown of that. This country is too blessed to be broke. We shouldn’t be borrowing.”

“Even in over 60 years of existence, the Navy has not been able to cover 500 navigable waterways. And I am not even talking about the coastline.

“There are places along our coastline where you will ask yourself if NIMASA, NPA, NIWA, or the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy even exist. These areas have become safe havens for criminals. When these individuals finish operations at sea, they retreat to the backwaters to hide,” he said.

He argued that the gap highlighted the need for a specialised civilian Coast Guard force to manage search and rescue, enforce safety regulations, and protect the waterways.

Defending the introduction of the Nigeria Coast Guard Bill, Oniye argued that those opposing the bill should provide clear reasons for their stance, noting that the potential for increased transparency could be the driving factor behind the resistance to the bill.

He emphasised that the Coast Guard would act as the eyes of the President and the minister, uncovering inefficiencies and corruption within Nigeria’s maritime domain.

Also, the Management Consultant at the Merchant Marine Training Academy, Dr Omonbude Mike, underscored the importance of a Coast Guard for Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline, which is threatened by overfishing, piracy, oil spills, environmental degradation, illegal fishing, smuggling and weak governance.

He advocated a Coast Guard to enforce environmental laws, penalise illegal waste disposal, and secure Nigeria’s maritime resources for long-term sustainability.