The Senate Committee on Marine Transport has announced an indefinite postponement of the public hearing on the Nigerian Coast Guard Bill, initially scheduled for November 7. The delay follows the passing of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who died earlier this week at the age of 56.
The hearing, set to be held at the National Assembly Library and Resource Centre, was expected to bring together stakeholders to discuss the bill, which aims to bolster Nigeria’s maritime security and align with global standards. The bill, sponsored by Senator Wasiu Eshilokun (APC-Lagos), seeks to establish a legal framework focused on protecting Nigeria’s maritime interests and enhancing coastal security across the region.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Committee Clerk Dauda Bukar, the postponement was attributed to the nation’s period of mourning for General Lagbaja, a key figure in Nigeria’s security landscape. “I am directed to inform all stakeholders and the general public that the one-day public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Marine Transport on the Nigerian Coast Guard Bill has been postponed indefinitely,” the statement read. “New date will be announced in due course. This is largely because of the state of mourning for the demise of the Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.”
This is the second postponement of the hearing, which had previously been set for November 5. While no new date has been announced, the Senate Committee assured stakeholders that the bill remains a legislative priority and that updates will be provided as soon as possible.
The Nigerian Coast Guard Bill aims to create a dedicated coast guard agency to improve maritime surveillance, combat piracy, and safeguard the nation’s waterways, a pressing issue for Nigeria’s economy and regional security. The indefinite delay highlights the gravity of the mourning period and the collective tribute to the late Army Chief, whose contributions to national security were widely respected across the armed forces and governmental sectors.
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