The Nigeria Marine Coast Guard Volunteer Service (NMCGVS) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to grant it formal recognition through a government gazette, enabling it to function effectively as a critical component of the country’s maritime emergency response framework.
The Chief Commanding Officer of the NMCGVS, Captain Isaac Adamolekun, stated that the service is actively engaging key stakeholders, including the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to build partnerships and secure official recognition.
This, he said, would empower the organisation to fulfil its mission of safeguarding lives and ensuring safer waterways.
Adamolekun emphasised the economic and operational benefits of maintaining the NMCGVS as a non-militarised entity, noting that its approach enhances safety in maritime transportation and tourism, attracts investors, and reduces preventable loss of life.
He emphasised that as a pioneering non-militarised maritime safety service, the NMCGVS aims to address critical gaps in search-and-rescue operations by providing regimented, seaborne humanitarian services.
Adamolekun highlighted the organisation’s legal registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) but stressed the need for formal government gazetting to enhance its nationwide operations.
“With formal recognition, the NMCGVS would be better positioned to collaborate seamlessly with agencies such as the Nigerian Navy, NIMASA, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),” Adamolekun explained.
Outlining an ambitious vision, Adamolekun revealed plans to combat drowning and water-related emergencies across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He detailed the organisation’s role as first responders to maritime accidents, flood emergencies and marine suicides, as well as its commitment to promoting safety in marine tourism.
The captain highlighted that the NMCGVS also conducts research on marine safety, organises seminars on safe water usage and provides accident investigation and rescue recommendations.
According to him, despite limited resources, the organisation has made significant strides, including training volunteers in seamanship, boat handling, rescue swimming, first aid and search-and-rescue techniques.
These efforts, he noted, are carried out in partnership with the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology and international organisations.
Adamolekun highlighted the NMCGVS’s achievements, such as conducting rescue operations for flood victims in Lagos and Ogun states.
However, he noted that the lack of essential equipment, including inflatable rescue boats, hampers its full operational potential.
He called for public and governmental support to address these gaps, preserve the organisation’s humanitarian ethos, and enhance its lifesaving capabilities.
Adamolekun emphasised that with adequate support, the organisation can create safer waterways and ensure that no life is lost needlessly.