The Provisional Committee of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has warned Nigerians against individuals collecting money for fake recruitment, training and appointments into the proposed institution.

The committee said the activities were unauthorised, stressing that a statutory Nigerian Coast Guard had not yet been established by law.

Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, PC-NCG, gave the warning in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

Kiyaramo issued the statement on behalf of Capt. Noah Ichaba, Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the committee.

He said PC-NCG was an advocacy platform supporting the lawful establishment of a Nigerian Coast Guard through constitutional, legislative and governmental processes.

“Advocating for the lawful establishment of a Nigerian Coast Guard is not the same as operating a statutory Coast Guard,” he said.

According to him, PC-NCG does not recruit personnel into a statutory Nigerian Coast Guard or commission officers and confer statutory ranks and appointments.

He said the committee also did not collect money for enlistment, recruitment, training, appointment or commissioning into a statutory Coast Guard.

Kiyaramo therefore advised Nigerians to disregard individuals or organisations presenting purported recruitment or training exercises as enlistment into an already-established Nigerian Coast Guard.

He said participation in PC-NCG advocacy activities did not amount to enlistment, employment, commissioning or appointment in a statutory Coast Guard.

The committee also urged members of the public not to make payments or surrender personal documents to persons offering purported Coast Guard recruitment or training.

It advised prospective participants to independently verify the legal authority and status of any organisation making such claims.

The committee said no individual or group should present itself as a statutory Nigerian Coast Guard before the institution was established by law.

It also cautioned against the unauthorised use of the proposed Coast Guard’s name, uniforms, ranks or insignia to create the impression that the institution already existed.

Kiyaramo said PC-NCG had consistently conducted its advocacy through open and accountable processes.

He said the committee remained committed to engaging the National Assembly and relevant government institutions toward the establishment of the Coast Guard.

He recalled that the activities of PC-NCG were reviewed by the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police Force in 2022.

According to him, the review did not establish that the committee had constituted or operated a statutory Nigerian Coast Guard.

Kiyaramo also said the proposed Coast Guard establishment process had previously faced legal challenges from individuals opposed to the initiative.

He said the proceedings were dismissed and did not terminate the advocacy process.

The committee expressed concern over attempts by some individuals or groups to operate parallel structures under the identity of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard.

It said such activities could mislead members of the public and undermine the lawful process for establishing the institution.

The committee welcomed Nigerians and organisations genuinely supporting the establishment of a Nigerian Coast Guard.

It, however, urged supporters to pursue the objective through constitutional and legislative channels rather than establish parallel structures.

Kiyaramo said PC-NCG would continue engaging the National Assembly and relevant government institutions on funding, jurisdiction and inter-agency coordination.

He said the engagements would also address operational effectiveness to support the emergence of a viable and professionally regulated Nigerian Coast Guard.

“Our objective is not personal ownership of an institution, but the lawful establishment of a Nigerian Coast Guard that belongs to Nigeria and serves the Nigerian people,” he said.

The committee called on maritime professionals, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to support the lawful legislative and governmental process.

It urged Nigerians to reject unauthorised recruitment exercises and other activities capable of creating confusion over the status of the proposed Coast Guard.

“The facts and chronology of events are now in the public domain. Nigerians are capable of examining them and drawing informed conclusions,” the statement said.