5 hours ago
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Captain Isaac Adamolekun, the founder of the Nigeria Marine Coast Guard Volunteer Service (NMCGVS) has called for a formal Government gazetting of the service to operate effectively on a national scale.
He made the call while addressing newsmen in Lagos, stressing that NMCGVS is legally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a legal entity.
He said that the recognition is akin to that of the Nigerian Red Cross Society and would empower the NMCGVS to collaborate seamlessly with agencies such as the Nigerian Navy, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
He said that the organization’s vision, mission and national assignment is to tackle the urgent issue of drowning and water-related emergencies across Nigeria.
“As a pioneering initiative, the NMCGVS seeks to bridge critical gaps in maritime search &rescue and emergency response, providing a Seaborne humanitarian Lifesaving alternative to address these challenges effectively.
“The NMCGVS focuses on combating drowning across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Acting as first responders, the service is dedicated to combating drowning, addressing flood emergencies, maritime transport accidents, and marine suicide prevention on long bridges like Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge.
He said that the Service already operating in Nigeria is designed to function as a non-armed volunteer organization focused on Seaborne humanitarian lifesaving service and marine emergency rescue operations.
He said though still making consultation on getting NMCGVS gazetted as a national entity, that NMCGVS has made commendable progress.
“It has trained Coastguard Volunteer rescue swimmers in seamanship, boat handling, radar watch keeping , Marine radio communication , signals, rescue swimming, personnel survival, basic firefighting, basic first Aids, gear work or rope work and search-and-rescue techniques that meet international standards in conjunction with Federal college of fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos and the International partners.
He added that the organization has also participated in awareness campaigns such as the World Drowning Prevention Day and conducted limited rescue operations, including assessing flood victims in areas like Kara and Riverview Estate between Lagos and Ogun States.
He however said that the lack of essential equipment, such as inflatable rescue boats, continues to hinder its capacity to respond fully to emergencies.
Speaking further he said that NMCGVS is actively seeking government gazetting to formalize its operations and that the service has reached out to stakeholders, including the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Managing Director of NIWA, and NIMASA, to foster partnerships and gain acknowledgment.
He has also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to grant the NMCGVS official status as a national entity, by gazetting the Service.
