President Umaru Yar‘Adua has sent a bill to the Senate seeking its approval for the creation of a maritime security agency responsible for protecting shipping, oil facilities and ports in the Niger Delta.

The President sent the bill, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters on Tuesday, to the Senate in September for consideration.

Under the proposal, coastguard officials would have the authority to inspect ships, arrest suspects and carry firearms in the oil-producing region.

“They would provide security information on oil and gas pipelines, rigs, platforms and all other established installations,” the report said.

The new agency would be partially funded through one per cent levy on annual profits from companies using Nigeria‘s waterways.

Militants and criminal gangs have sabotaged pipelines, hijacked vessels and bombed oil facilities in the region for years, preventing the country from producing much above two-thirds of its capacity.

The Joint Taskforce in teh Niger Delta is responsible for protecting the region‘s creeks and waterways, but its presence has become a bone of contention for militant groups and activists.

Militants have repeatedly demanded the withdrawal of soldiers from local communities, but the military has refused to leave until law and order is restored in the region.

The creation of a non-military maritime agency could allow the army to begin its gradual withdrawal while maintaining security.

The most prominent militant commanders in the region all accepted a presidential amnesty offer before a deadline on Sunday, raising hopes of a sustained period of peace.

A senior military official involved in the disarmament process told Reuters that he feared militancy could resurface unless there were more rigorous patrols of the region‘s waterways to prevent weapons from being smuggled in.



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