The Provisional Committee for the Establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has warned individuals and groups parading as an operational Coast Guard to stop immediately.

‎The committee said it had observed an increase in unauthorised recruitment, training, rank allocation, appointment and issuance of identity cards in the name of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard.

‎Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, Director of Communication and Public Affairs, PC-NCG, issued the warning in a statement on Sunday on behalf of Capt. Noah Ichaba, Chief Executive and Accounting Officer.

‎Kiyaramo said the Nigerian Coast Guard remained a proposed institution awaiting lawful establishment through an Act of the National Assembly.

‎He said the PC-NCG was an advocacy and facilitation platform working toward the establishment of the Coast Guard and was not itself an operational government security agency.

‎“The provisional committee itself is an advocacy and facilitation platform working for its lawful establishment by an Act of the National Assembly.

‎“It is not itself the operational Coast Guard. No one acquires statutory status merely by adopting the name, wearing a uniform or proclaiming themselves as the institution,” he said.

‎The committee cited recent arrests in Akwa Ibom as evidence of the growing problem of unauthorised activities carried out in the name of the proposed Coast Guard.

‎It recalled that 12 persons were arrested on Aug. 31, 2026, over alleged unauthorised recruitment and training under the name of the Nigerian Coast Guard.

‎It added that five other persons were arrested and prosecuted in the state in September over similar activities.

‎The committee said the arrests should serve as a warning against exploiting the Coast Guard vision to mislead Nigerians or collect money under false pretences.

‎PC-NCG also warned against the sale, purchase or self-allocation of ranks, saying privately conferred ranks could not become statutory government ranks.

‎It said appointments obtained through financial contributions, gifts, personal loyalty or private declarations had no status as government appointments.

‎According to the committee, a future Nigerian Coast Guard established by law will have a statutory framework governing recruitment, training, commissioning, ranks, promotion, discipline and command.

‎“This is not an invitation to conflict, but an invitation to correction,” the committee said, urging those involved to disengage from unauthorised activities.

‎It called on individuals and groups involved in such activities to preserve their professional dignity and support the lawful process for establishing the Coast Guard.

‎“The future Nigerian Coast Guard must not become the personal property of any individual or competing faction. It must belong to Nigeria.

‎“Its powers, ranks, uniforms and operations must derive from law,” the committee said.

‎PC-NCG urged the public to reject unauthorised recruitment, private commissioning, sale or purchase of ranks, collection of money for appointments and false representation as an operational Nigerian Coast Guard.

‎It said the Coast Guard initiative was intended to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security and support the development of the nation’s blue economy.

‎“No Blue Economy without Blue Security and Blue Justice,” the committee said.