Senate DeliberatesOn Maritime Security Bill

The Maritime Security Coordinating Agency (MASECA) bill passed through second reading on the floor of the Senate, despite fears it might overlap the functions of the Nigerian Navy.

The bill seeks to establish a maritime Security Agency which shall be charged with the responsibility of providing security and safety facilities for all participants in the Nigerian Maritime Industry.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Sen. Chris Anyanwu said new agencies should not be created for maritime security when many of such agencies were already in existence.

Anyanwu argued that creation of the new agency to be coordinated by the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) would be distractive as well as undermine the work of the Navy.

“ Currently there are about ten agencies involved in maritime security. We should not be creating new agencies when existing ones were not adequately funded.

“This agency seeks to duplicate existing agencies and compete for scarce resources.

“The NSA has enough work to do so, giving him the extra work of controlling the revenue generated by the agency will be distractive.

“As Senators, our work is to ensure our national institutions are well catered for.

Also opposing the bill, Sen. Shola Adeyeye ( Osun -ACN) said rather than creating new agencies, it was important to strengthen existing ones through amendments of relevant legislations.

“It’s not about creating a new agency, it’s about getting the job done. What is needed is to strengthen existing ones.

“ We can bring an amendment to further enhance the efficiency of the Navy. I pray we reject this bill as it is presently presented, ‘’ he maintained.

Leading the debate, Leader of the Senate, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba noted that it was in accordance with standard international practice to have dedicated agencies to address challenges of maritime insecurity.

“This bill is specifically fashioned to deal with issues of security and safety for all categories of users of the Nigerian Maritime Industry.

“It will provide for the full implementation of maritime security regimes as required by the international bodies as well as address other national maritime security and economic challenges.

Ndoma-Egba stressed that if passed into law, the agency would not only create jobs for the people, but would also generate N250billion as revenue for the government.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu argued that maritime security agencies complemented the naval forces in other parts of the world without any conflict of interest.

“We have security challenges around the country and any country that has these challenges needs to take appropriate actions to reduce the menace.

“ If other countries still have a functional navy alongside other security agencies, I believe we can as well do so without conflict, ‘’ he said.