ABUJA, Oct. 31 (AGCNewsNet) – Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has ruled out the creation of a separate coast guard, arguing that the Nigerian Navy already performs the same functions and that establishing another agency would only waste resources and duplicate efforts.

Speaking during his Senate screening on Thursday, Abbas said it would be more prudent to strengthen existing naval operations instead of creating overlapping structures.

“We don’t need a separate Coast Guard because the Nigerian Navy already performs those functions. Creating another agency would only duplicate efforts. It’s better to channel those funds toward boosting naval operations,” he told lawmakers.

The naval chief-designate revealed that the Navy recently set up a Special Operations Command in Makurdi, Benue State, to enhance security along inland waterways linking Benue and Lokoja — part of a broader effort to improve internal maritime safety.

Abbas outlined plans to modernise naval surveillance by integrating drones and artificial intelligence (AI) to combat oil theft, piracy, and other maritime crimes, particularly in the Niger Delta and coastal regions.

“We will incorporate more technology, including the use of drones, to tackle maritime crime,” he said. “A lot of resources are currently wasted fueling boats to reach remote areas. Technology will help us respond faster and more effectively.”

He explained that the shift from traditional fuel-intensive patrols to digital and remote monitoring would reduce costs and improve efficiency. AI-driven tools and drone systems, he said, would help detect and prevent oil theft, illegal bunkering, and other economic crimes.

“Some of our patrols do not yield expected results because of the nature of the terrain, and resources are often wasted on fuel. Using drones will allow us to monitor these areas more effectively,” he added.

Responding to questions from Senator Olamilekan Solomon, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Abbas noted that most oil theft occurs in remote creeks and coastal areas. While individual cases may seem minor, he said their cumulative impact on the economy is significant.

He disclosed that the Navy had made progress in curbing the use of offshore tankers for transporting stolen crude and was deploying digital tracking systems to monitor suspicious vessel movements.

Abbas also commented on the military’s deradicalisation programme for repentant criminals, urging that empathy be extended to victims’ families.

“Deradicalising repentant criminals is a good idea, but we must also think of the moral burden. Families who lost loved ones to these criminals should be consulted before amnesty is granted,” he said.

Reaffirming the Navy’s commitment to its Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy — a framework addressing piracy, oil theft, smuggling, and kidnapping — Abbas called for stronger collaboration across the security and civil sectors.

“The challenges we face cannot be solved by the military alone,” he concluded. “It requires a whole-of-society approach. We must synergise across the armed forces and with civil institutions to make Nigeria safer.”

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