For years the Western Indian Ocean was the hot bed for sea piracy. The Eastern coast of Somalia was said to be the most dangerous coast in all of Africa, and for decades the Somali’s revelled in their status as Kings of Dark Seas. Hollywood made movies like the 2013 movie Captain Philips, which became a blockbuster success. Dozens of movies were made based on incidents that have taken place in people’s lives.

While the problem of sea piracy was still of grave concern in the Horn of Africa, another part of the continent has overtaken it as the most dangerous region in the world do seafarer :

Gulf of Guinea in West Africa.

There is no denying the fact that West Africa, and Nigeria in particular have the worlds most dangerous seas. This is gonna be a problem. The waters south of Nigeria’s oil producing Niger Delta is vital to the Nigerian economy and any disruption of oil production will have an adverse effect on Africa’s biggest economy.


NNS Thunder F-9. Flagship of the Nigerian Navy.
In 2008, fifty persent of Nigeria’s fishing vessels refused to go out to sea because of how dangerous such an endeavor has become in recent times. In January 2017 there were 50 attacks on merchant ships and 10 murders. numerous complaints was that when an attack occurred, there was nobody to call for help. Without some form naval escorts they were going no where.

The Nigerian navy is overstretched. There are simple not enough vessels to patrol every water ways, oil terminals, anti piracy operations….,.the Nigerian navy lacks the capacity to run operations in such a scale.

The solution to this might be to create a support service to reduce the burden on The Nigerian Navy, freeing up vital assets to area where its needed.

COAST GUARD

The Nigerian navy —one of the most sophisticated navies in Africa, with a demonstrated capability to sail to Australia, Europe and South America is not designed to combat maritime armed robbery and piracy. It is essentially a blue water navy, one that was capable of shelling rebel forces in Sierra Leone in the 1990s but is powerless to deal with local crimes.

Nigeria’s experience reflects Africa’s maritime security environment. Of the 33 independent maritime nations in sub-Saharan Africa, only five—Cape Verde, Liberia (when legislation is finalized), São Tome and Principe, the Republic of Mauritius, and the Republic of Seychelles have maritime forces that identify themselves as coast guards rather than navies.

Yet Africa’s maritime security challenges are most often comprised of threats such as illegal fishing, narcotrafficking, and maritime disaster response, threats requiring the technical skills and collaborative…..with local crime. .


Navy versus Coast Guard.

Navies and coast guards play fundamentally different, though complementary, roles. Navies are international operators primarily concerned with national defense. Coast guards, on the other hand, function more as maritime police, preventing crime and promoting public safety. Examples of the navy being used as an instrument of diplomacy and political/strategic posturing.

In 1907 the then U.S President Theodore Roosevelt dispatched the “Great White Fleet” around the world in 1907 to demonstrate the re-emergence of the U.S. Navy as the new kid in the block.
In 2009, the Russian Navy and China’s PLAN carried out joint naval exercises in the Gukf of Aden.

2011. At the height of the Ivory Coast’s post election crises the South African navy deployed a warship – SAS Drakensberg to the Gulf of Guinea. This symbolic action was not lost on the Nigerian government.

In September 2013 the Nigerian Navy made history when for the first time it visited Australia for the annual Australian International Fleet Review, traveling more than 24,000 km from Lagos as Africa’s sole representative. At about 24,000 kilometres, this is the furthest any African navy had gone, cementing Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s naval superpower.

January 2017. Nigeria deploys it’s newest warship NNS Unity to the Gambia in a show of force. The deployment was part of the strategy of ECOWAS to force out President Yahya Jammeh who refused entreaties from the region’s leaders to step down following his last December 1 presidential election defeat by Mr. Adama Barrow.

Now attending International Naval wargames and making Port Calls, represent but only a small fraction of the commitments the Nigerian Navy. With most of Nigeria’s oil reserves in these waters, a much larger part of their mission set is coast guard fundamentally and relates to law enforcement, environmental protection and maritime safety obligations that occur within a nations territorial waters (within 12 nautical miles of coastline) and exclusive economic zone. (EEZ; waters within 200 nautical miles of the coastline)

There is no way the Nigerian Navy can can enforce laws combating legal traffic in weapons, narcotics, cigarettes, illegal fishing and other contraband that passes inside Nigeria’s EEZ, as well as support environmental protection efforts that prevents illegal fishing, dumping of waste and other toxic stuffs.

There is just no way the Nigerian navy can effectively carry out these operations without compromising its blue water capability which entails protecting strategic assets such as offshore oil terminals hundreds of miles out into the Atlantic, responding to maritime disasters etc.

The Nigerian Navy needs a Coast Guard service semi independent from the Navy, able to carry out independent operations. This coast guard fleet must be capable of performing search and rescue (SAR) activities and patrolling coastal waters, lakes, and rivers.

Their vessels include cutters, tugs, buoy tenders, and icebreakers, as well as small boats for harbor patrols and interception activities close to shore. Coast guard fleets do not include vessels as big as the larger naval platforms, but their cutters and enforcement plat- forms are equivalent in size and capability to some naval surface combatants like frigates.
The way forward.

As the biggest maritime power in black Africa Nigeria deserves a Navy in which we can be justifiably proud and which is worthy of this great country and that it would be inadequate for Nigeria to have “a token Navy which is capable of plying on our lagoon and River Ogun and no more. We need to totally dominate the West African maritime domain and use it as a tool to further our national interest.

Ten months ago Nigeria spent $300 million to restore democracy in the Gambia. Hundreds of Nigerian Special Forces stayed behind to maintain peace after the successful resolution to the impass. Yet, Australia yesterday (November 21) just secured a 1.1 billion barrels of oil from Gambian blocks.

How is this possible in our own backyard. It took the Nigerian Navy 60 days cruising at 40 knot to cross the Indian Ocean and get to Sydney. Thats 24,000 miles. How did the Aussies beat Africa’s biggest oil producer its very own backyard ?

http://shipsandports.com.ng/australias-far-expects-1-1-billion-barrels-oil-gambian-blocks/

The Nigerian Navy cemented herself as Africa’s maritime power just by being the first ever and sole African representtive at the Austalian International Fleet Review in Australia, covering a staggering 24,000 kilometres. We can improve on this by upgrading our fleet, adding offensive and defensive armaments and perhaps participate in the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise – RIMPAC. At the moment the Nigerian Navy is the sole African navy capable of navigating such huge distances.

https://defensenigeria.blog/2017/11/22/the-nigeria-navy-needs-a-coast-guard/

Does Nigeria need nuclear submarine too?

I'm inbetween on this proposal thinking about cost. I do agree with needs to protect territorial wate. rs. There's billions of dollars left on table by not taking action. I was thinking the navy should simply be expanded. I don't think we need to make coast guard a separate branch like USA to save money.


Nice I've waiting on navy article from you.

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zenmaster:
Does Nigeria need nuclear submarine too?

Nigeria needs you to hop on the celebrity section asap.

Blue3k:
I'm inbetween on this proposal thinking about cost. I do agree with needs to protect territorial waters. There's billions of dollars left on table by not taking action. I was thinking the navy should simply be expanded.


Nice I've waiting on navy article from you.

Well ideally this will be a chance for the Navy to ramp up Its local ship building capacity. Boats like Andonni and Karaduwa are ideal for littoral waters. Its a win win. With proper funding our ship building capacity can be greatly enhanced if the incentive is there, with a customer like the Nigerian government production will be expanded. That's creating jobs, technical know how expansion. It beats those canoes from Sri-Lanka the Nigerian government wasted money on.

SSBN:


Nigeria needs you to hop on the celebrity section asap.

Ok

OP, this your write- up is the bomb. Nothing can be truer. But from your analysis, it appears you know much about the world navies, my thought though.

That depends

Between Pyrates and Herdmen

Which is a torn on the Balls

SSBN:


Well ideally this will be a chance for the Navy to ramp up Its local ship building capacity. Boats like Andonni and Karaduwa are ideal for littoral waters. Its a win win. With proper funding our ship building capacity can be greatly enhanced if the incentive is there, with a customer like the Nigerian government production will be expanded. That's creating jobs, technical know how expansion. It beats those canoes from Sri-Lanka the Nigerian government wasted money on.

Nigeria actually has been trying to expand its ship building capacity. They commissed some boats a few month ago. Military advancement usually goes with economic advancement. That means we need to get steel industry going.

Start from the easy part before doing difficult things.

Land borders as as open as ever. They cannot be manned properly. Land border is supposed to be the easiest to police but Nigeria cannot do that. Yet you are suggesting guarding sea

zenmaster:

Ok

Your comment is so daft. Instead of posting memes to battle strawmen try addressing his points. He not saying we need to go on imperial escapades but to secure your territorial waters. How do you look at facts like this and think there's no issue?

fifty percent of Nigeria’s fishing vessels refused to go out to sea because of how dangerous such an endeavor has become in recent times. In January 2017 there were 50 attacks on merchant ships and 10 murders. numerous complaints was that when an attack occurred, there was nobody to call for help.

Yet Africa’s maritime security challenges are most often comprised of threats such as illegal fishing, narcotrafficking, and maritime disaster response, threats requiring the technical skills and collaborative…..with local crime.

My suggestion for years now, scrap the Civil Defense corp and collapse it into a Coastal guard which we sorely need. The so called Peace Corp should suffer the same fate. High quality, agile vessels should be purchased from abroad while companies like Innoson (?), Epenal etc should be encouraged to reverse engineer such boats. Facts at the end of the day is that we need a coast guard. Those who're not from riverine communities won't know what we're talking about here or they just won't care

Queenlovely:
Start from the easy part before doing difficult things.

Land borders as as open as ever. They cannot be manned properly. Land border is supposed to be the easiest to police but Nigeria cannot do that. Yet you are suggesting guarding sea

Both are equally important. The ministry of interior actually has taken steps to address that situation. More can be done with man power and equipment though. Here's link

Immigration policy:
● Reactivate the Air Border Patrol wing so that we can patrol and feed ground commanders so that we can react as soon as possible.
● Increase coperation with Neighbors on border issues.

RZArecta:
Facts at the end of the day is that we need a coast guard. Those who're not from riverine communities won't know what we're talking about here or they just won't care.

Agree these issues don't get that much press. I remember reading Akwa Ibomite women where kidnapped and raped by these sea robbers. Then there's huge extortion boat owners suffer.

Its a nice idea but I think coast guard functions should be added into the Civil Defense mandate. It will be cheaper to train them and expand their mandate. There is also the advantage of knowing the local terrain since majority of of them are recruited from the locality.
They need to be occupied

Kalapizim:
Its a nice idea but I think coast guard functions should be added into the Civil Defense mandate. It will be cheaper to train them and expand their mandate. There is also the advantage of knowing the local terrain since majority of of them are recruited from the locality.
They need to be occupied

I thought I was the only one who saw that most if these new agencies are currently redundant and a siphon on the FGs money.

peterphd:



I thought I was the only one who saw that most if these new agencies are currently redundant and a siphon on the FGs money.

exactly, NSCDC to me is redundant and needs to be kept busy.

What nonsense are you talking about..


The Navy is in the west..

The coast guard is in the east.. what you have in the east is a coast guard

gete21:
What nonsense are you talking about..


The Navy is in the west..

The coast guard is in the east.. what you have in the east is a coast guard

No we don't. Why would we have a coast guard guarding half the country. Stop making stuff up.

Front Page: Lalasticlala

[quote

ademusiwa3r:


Go to school, they are suppose to produce the chief of the coast guard in the east..

And while the west was suppose to produce cheif of Navy.. and noticed the west have been producing the chief of the Navy.

Lol you have active imagination consider writing fiction books. Theres no such ranks in Navy. Second I looked at Navy website and none of what you claimed poped up on eastern command section.

Blue3k:


Lol you have active imagination consider writing fiction books. Theres no such ranks in Navy second i looked at Navy website none if what u claimed popes up on eastern command section.

stop wasting your time on Musiwa.


OP, great writeup as usual.

Kalapizim:
exactly, NSCDC to me is redundant and needs to be kept busy.

Very Redundant I tell you.
I have always fancied the idea for a coast guard but then the costs and seeming encroachment on "turfs" is the stick in the mud
I just think the Navy needs a better budget and a reshuffle in its focus.

For inshore policing I'd opine a Joint Force( a division with a well defined chain of command & control preferably under the ministry of Interior) comprising of rotating Army,Civil defence & Naval men

Odunayaw:
Very Redundant I tell you.
I have always fancied the idea for a coast guard but then the costs and seeming encroachment on "turfs" is the stick in the mud
I just think the Navy needs a better budget and a reshuffle in its focus.

For inshore policing I'd opine a Joint Force( a division with a well defined chain of command & control) comprising of rotating Army,Civil defence & Naval men

Apparently they do work in pipeline protection and arresting illegal miners on top of their current mandate. I do think the coast guard just be rolled into navy instead of being its own seprate branch like other countries. The onshore sounds good if current agencies cant handle the job.

Blue3k:


Apparently they do work in pipeline protection and arresting illegal miners on top of their current mandate. I do think the coast guard just be rolled into navy instead of being its own separate branch like other countries. The onshore sounds good if current agencies cant handle the job.

The NSCDC should be active in many fronts. I don't even have a clue about their organizational structure. But that's a story for another day.

Yeah I agree we don't need a separate branch, the bane of the Navy is shoestring budget and lackadaisical attitude of the bean counters. Offshore patrols can generate so much tours that the Navy would forget that they have speedboats for inshore patrol

Odunayaw:
Very Redundant I tell you.
I have always fancied the idea for a coast guard but then the costs and seeming encroachment on "turfs" is the stick in the mud
I just think the Navy needs a better budget and a reshuffle in its focus.

For inshore policing I'd opine a Joint Force( a division with a well defined chain of command & control preferably under the ministry of Interior) comprising of rotating Army,Civil defence & Naval men

Spot on ! funding might just be the bottle neck sha