How FG Plans To Secure Coastline With Guards

Posted by Nwa Diokpa Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Saturday, November 18th, 2023

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has talked about the plans by the Federal Government to establish coast guards to improve security along coastlines in the country.

Oyetola made this known in Iragbiji, his hometown in Osun State on Saturday at the 32nd edition of the annual Iragbiji Day celebrations, where money was raised for different community development projects.

The former Osun State Governor stated that plans are on the way to secure marine environment in the country and he mentioned the existence of the Deep Blue Project that deploys gunboats and other equipments for security on the coastline.

Talking about the plans to further enhance security along the nation’s coastline, Oyetola said, “We are already looking at the possibility of establishing coast guard which will be design essentially to ensure the safety of our coastline.

“We have not less than 853 kilometres of coastline in Nigeria and about 10,000 perimeter of inland waterways. If we want to ensure coastal tourism, we must provide adequate security. We are working with the Navy, Marine police and others to ensure security.”

Speaking on the conversion of the Sustainable Development Goals Skill Acquisition Centre located in the town to camp the Osun United Football Club by the state government, the minister stated that he had taken the matter up and made it clear that the facility should be used for the purpose it was built.

He said: “It is very unfortunate that the projects that meant to allow our youths to acquire skills are now being turned into camp for football. I don’t have problem with football but you can’t convert the facility that is meant to assist our youths in the area of skill acquisition to camp.

*It is unacceptable. I believe that the Federal Government will do what is right to ensure that the purpose of creating the centre is achieved.”