Edema: Crude Theft Won’t End Unless N’Assembly Passes Merchant Navy Bill

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Director-General and Commandant of the Merchant Navy Corps, Allen Benson Edema, has declared that crude oil theft would continue in Nigeria for as long as the  National Assembly failed to pass the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety  Corps establishment bill.

Edema, who stated this in an interview with journalists in Abuja, yesterday, lamented that the legislation has been suffering rejection on the floors of both chambers since the 8th National Assembly.

He said in preparation for the take-off of the maritime security agency, the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety Corps had proposed the floating of 10 Merchant Ships and 45 Fishing Trawlers ships from Phillipine and other equipment from Holland for use in Nigeria

Edema explained that the bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety  Corps was introduced in the 8th Senate by the immediate past Deputy President of the Senate,  Ovie Omo-Agege  but legislative activities could not be concluded on it.

He said the bill among others, sought the creation of the Coast Guard Corps whose Director General shall be the Commandant and Chief Executive Officer appointed by the President,  subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

The board of the corps, he added, would be composed of representatives from the ministries of transportation, environment, finance, health, and defence.

Others are Nautical College of Nigeria, Nigeria Ports Authority,  Nigeria Inland Water Ways Authority,  and the Oil and Gas producing companies in Nigeria.

Operatives of the NMN Coast Guard Corps, according to the legislation, would monitor and protect the Nigerian territorial waters from pollution during ship building in docks and in slip-ways and during construction of any maritime facilities.

They will also protect the Nigerian territorial waters from dumping, pollution by toxic waste poisons, chemical or any other elements that constitute risks to human and marine lives.