By David Owei

Abuja, Nigeria – The Provisional Committee of the Proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has welcomed the lifting of the United States Coast Guard’s Condition of Entry on vessels arriving from Nigeria, but cautions that the development should trigger national reflection, not celebration.

In a statement signed by its Director of Communication & Public Affairs, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo on behalf of the Chief Executive & Accounting Officer, Capt. Noah Ichaba, PC-NCG described the 12-year restriction as “an avoidable, self-inflicted institutional burden” that exposed critical gaps in Nigeria’s maritime security architecture.

“The lifting of the restriction is not an achievement Nigeria should celebrate. It is the correction of a maritime-security failure Nigeria must examine,” Capt. Ichaba stated.
“The real question is not why the restriction was finally lifted. The question is why Nigeria carried it for twelve years.”

It will be recalled that Nigeria was notified on 26 March 2013 of identified maritime-security deficiencies and given recommendations. Following the USCG’s assessment that the deficiencies remained unaddressed, the Condition of Entry was imposed in 2014.

For 12 years, Nigerian-bound vessels faced additional security requirements, scrutiny, documentation, and delays before proceeding to the United States. NIMASA acknowledged that the measures were linked to ISPS Code compliance and had economic consequences.

PC-NCG notes that during this period, Nigeria devoted significant resources, time, and diplomatic attention to managing the consequences of a problem that should have been addressed earlier.

While commending the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, NIMASA, port authorities, terminal operators, and other stakeholders for the corrective work, PC-NCG is calling for a full cost-of-delay assessment.

“How much public money was spent? How many delegations travelled? How much commercial time was lost? Nigerians deserve to know what those twelve years cost,” the statement said.

PC-NCG has urged the Federal Government and National Assembly to undertake a comprehensive National Maritime Security Audit to answer five critical questions: What did the 12-year Condition of Entry cost Nigeria? Why did it take 12 years to resolve? Which maritime functions remain fragmented or unclear? What capacity is required to prevent recurrence? and Where does the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard fit within the architecture?

The Institutional Lesson: Specialisation, Not Duplication
PC-NCG emphasized that the USCG assessment focused not on whether Nigeria has a Navy, but on whether Nigeria’s civil maritime-security system was effective.

“A country can have a powerful Navy and still require specialised institutions for maritime law enforcement, port security, search and rescue, and coastal policing. Having maritime institutions is not the same as having an integrated maritime-security architecture,” Capt. Ichaba said.

PC-NCG reiterated that the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard is not intended to replace the Nigerian Navy, NIMASA, NPA, or NIWA.

“The Navy must not be the loser. But the Navy must not be the obstacle. A strong Coast Guard does not mean a weak Navy. A strong Navy does not mean Nigeria cannot have a Coast Guard. Specialisation is not duplication. Clarity is not competition.”

PC-NCG warned against allowing celebration to silence accountability.
“Do not wait twelve years again. Do not wait for another foreign regulator to identify a weakness. Build capacity before the crisis. The Coast Guard is not a cost to be feared. It is an investment in preventing the next national maritime security failure.”
“No Blue Economy without Blue Security and Blue Justice.”

The Provisional Committee of the Proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) is a policy and advocacy body working for the establishment of a dedicated civil maritime security and maritime law enforcement institution for Nigeria. PC-NCG promotes institutional clarity, specialisation, and preventive governance in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

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‎By Emmanuel Ikpe
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‎Out gone Senior Secondary Students of Anua Comprehensive High School, Anua Offot in Uyo Local Government Area has poured encomiums on the Proprietor of the  school, Chief Linus Inyang over his proactive and positive impact in the school structure since he came on board as the Village Head of Anua Offot.
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‎Eteidung Linus Bassey Inyang who was coronated as the village head of the community on the 2nd of May, 2024, came in to meet things in the school unkept, as a man of dignity, he was displeased, and therefore used the mandate and power given to him to turned things around for good in the school, says the students.
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‎According to the students, Chief Linus Inyang has changed management of the school, and has increased the staff salary thrice ever since he took over administration of the community and school. They commended him for mounting securities in the school compound and building of new structures for Computer Laboratory and Classrooms.
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‎They equally lauded effort of Chief Linus Inyang in renovating old structures in the school and painted them to give the school a new look, and for strategizing with Tegrach Nigerian Limited to control erosion within the school environment.
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‎Speaking further, the students noted that efforts of Chief Linus Inyang have yielded positive results and is making the school a better learning environment.
‎”with the help of Eteidung Linus Bassey Inyang, Anua Community Comprehensive High School is no longer; a camp of the cultist, no longer a raping ground, and no longer a field for the Egret, But rather, one of the best schools in Akwa Ibom State”
‎Anua Community Comprehensive High School was founded on the 10th of September 1977 during the regime of Eteidung (Chief) Cyril Essien, under the principalship of Mrs Catherine Essien which later was changed. Then Elder Ubokudom Gideon Etuk took over mantle of leadership as the principal from 2006 to 2012, which was handed over to Mr Gabriel Nsikak Udo and he ruled till 2024, but due to his shady handling of the office, the administration was handed over to Mr Paulinus you Effiong as the present principal of the school under the leadership of Eteidung Linus Inyang, the village head of Anua Offot.
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‎With collaboration between the headteacher Mrs Utibeno Ita and staff, both teaching and non teaching, Anua Comprehensive High School has really moved to an enviable heights.
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‎The out gone Senior Secondary Students of the leadership include Umoh Effiong Ernest Senior Prefect Boys, Jennifer Angulanne Senior Prefect Girls, Alafine Okon Assistant Prefect Girls, Victoria Ogechi Sanitary prefect, Edet Abasiofon Assistant, Esther Ubong Punctuality Prefect, Akah Favor Chapel Prefect, Glory Asuquo assistant, Bassey Emmanuel Games Prefect Boys, Akpode Favour Games Prefect Girls, Antigha Elijah Labour Prefect Boys and Udoh Emediong Golden Labour Prefect Girls.
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By George Mgbeleke
The Rivers State Government will from Monday, August 17, begin the commissioning of 10 major people-oriented projects across the state as part of efforts by Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration to deepen development at the grassroots.

In a statement by Head, Information and Public Relations Unit,
Office of the Secretary to the State Government, The commissioning programme, which will run through August 31, will cover projects across several local government areas, include roads, bridges, healthcare facilities, educational infrastructure and other public facilities.

The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, disclosed this on Friday during a media briefing in Port Harcourt.

According to Dr Wokoma, the projects are tangible evidence of the Governor’s commitment to transforming communities and addressing the developmental needs of residents across the state.

He disclosed that the commissioning will commence on August 17 with the Buguma-Degema-Abonnema Road, which links communities in Asari-Toru, Degema and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas.

The Egwi-Afara-Mba Road in Etche Local Government Area will be commissioned on August 18, followed by the Capt. Elechi Amadi Polytechnic’s Entrepreneurship Centre/Engineering Faculty Building on August 19.

On August 20, the governor will commission the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Dual Carriage Way in Ikwerre/Emohua/Onelga Local Government Areas, while the Omoku Zonal Hospital, Omoku in ONELGA, will be commissioned on August 21st.

The commissioning programme will resume on August 24 with the Omademe Internal Roads in Ikwerre LGA and attention will shift to Port Harcourt LGA on August 25 for the Commissioning of the New Runway at the Air Force Base, Rumuola.

On August 26, attention will shift to Emuoha LGA for the commissing of the Agba Ndele Road and Bridge while two major health facilities — the Neuro Psychiatric Hospital and New General Hospital, Rumuigbo, both in Obio/Akpor — are scheduled for commissioning on August 27.

The 10-day programme will end on August 28 with the commissioning of the Bonny National Grammar School in Bonny Local Government Area.

Dr. Wokoma said the projects reflected the administration’s determination to ensure that government policies and programmes affect citizens positively.

“These projects scheduled for commissioning are tangible evidence of His Excellency’s unwavering dedication to transform our communities and address the developmental needs of our people,” he said.

He added that the projects underscored the administration’s commitment to ensuring that governance produced “meaningful and measurable benefits for every citizen across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.”

The SSG also acknowledged the contributions of government officials, contractors, host communities and other stakeholders to the completion of the projects as he urged Rivers people to participate in the commissioning activities and continue to support the administration in its pursuit of peace and development.

“We invite all Rivers people to join in celebrating these milestones and to continue supporting the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as it advances peace, development, progress, and prosperity,” Dr Wokoma said.