By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja

The Director-General and Commandant of the Merchant Navy Corps, Allen Edema, has said crude oil theft would continue in Nigeria if the 10th  National Assembly failed to pass the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety  Corps establishment bill.

Edema stated this in an interview with journalists in Abuja yesterday.

He lamented that the proposed law has been rejected severally on the floors of both chambers since the 8th National Assembly.

He said, “In preparation for its take off, the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety Corps has proposed the floating of 10 Merchant Ships and 45 Fishing Trawlers ships from the Philippines and other equipment from Holland for use in Nigeria”

Edema explained that the bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coast Guard Security and Safety Corps was introduced in the 8th Senate by the immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege but legislative activities could not be concluded on it.

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He said the bill among others, seeks the creation of the Coast Guard Corps whose Director-General shall also be the Commandant and Chief Executive Officer appointed by the President, subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

The board of the corps, he added, would be composed of representatives from the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Environment, Finance, Health, and Defence.

Others are the Nautical College of Nigeria, Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigeria Inland Water Ways Authority, and the Oil and Gas producing companies in Nigeria.

Operatives of the NMN Coast Guard Corps, according to the legislation, would monitor and protect the Nigerian territorial waters from pollution during shipbuilding in docks and in slip-ways and during construction of any maritime facilities.