The Nigerian Navy as a Facilitator of Maritime Economic Activities

Abstract

It is apparent that Nigerians in the past were unaware of the very crucial role of the NN in the facilitation of maritime economic activities, until the advent of crude oil as the principal foreign exchange source for the country. This lack of appreciation of the enormous potential uses of the sea stemmed from technological backwardness and the absence of maritime culture, coupled with the fact that marine activities are far removed from the glare of most Nigerians. But recent technological advancements have altered this apathy towards the oceans, with Nigeria now dependent almost entirely on oil exploration from the coastal waters for economic survival. Fin and Shell fish from the marine environment also provides cheaper protein to teeming Nigerians and holds promise as a viable alternative source of foreign exchange. Furthermore, abundant marine minerals such as manganese nodules, sand, gravel and tin among others are still unexplored. Besides, ocean transportation accounts for over 80 percent of Nigeria's imports/exports of goods, making the country almost dependent on this mode for the facilitation of economic activities. As a result of this growing prosperity from our waters, there have been upsurge in local violent agitations, illegal economic activities and other potential threats to law and order within the maritime environment. This study therefore assesses the capability of the NN as the principal facilitator of maritime economic activities. In this regard, an assessment of the current NN capabilities and the strategy employed against these emerging threats reveal obvious deficiencies in maritime policing operations. The problems include inappropriate and inadequate platforms, maintenance and logistics difficulties, and the absence of professionally trained, skilled and experienced personnel required for maritime policing tasks. Meanwhile, the issues of effective maritime law enforcement, and safety of navigation are identified as crucial to facilitating maritime economic activities. The NN would therefore need to improve its performance in maritime policing/Coast Guard duties through a balanced training doctrine that professionalizes not only purely military tasks, but also that of maritime policing. The enhancement of the NN maritime policing operations will need to be complemented by increased cooperation and interactions with other maritime players, particularly the law enforcement agencies. Ultimately however, a national ocean policy would be required to resolve the crucial problems of how the various elements of national sea power are coordinated. This is expected to produce the desired atmosphere for vibrant maritime economic activities in Nigeria.