Author(s) :

Chibuike Finbarr Azike.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

This study investigates the role of institutional coordination in shaping maritime governance outcomes in Nigeria. Existing research often treats coordination as secondary to piracy, oil theft, or naval capacity, leaving a gap in understanding how inter-agency interactions affect coastal communities, human security, and livelihood outcomes. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was adopted. Data were collected from 350 personnel across key maritime institutions and supplemented with purposively sampled Key Informant Interviews with senior officers, regulators, and coastal stakeholders. Institutional theory guided the analysis, examining how overlapping mandates, normative pressures, and weak inter-agency interactions influence operational effectiveness. The study identified a critical human resources and coordination gap, with over 68 percent of respondents reporting overlapping mandates among maritime agencies and marine police, constraining operational efficiency. Coordination deficiencies were most pronounced at the operational and community engagement levels, with strategic committees rated as effective. These gaps delayed responses to piracy, illegal fishing, and oil theft and limited benefits to coastal communities. Institutional coordination is central to effective maritime governance in Nigeria. Weak coordination reduces enforcement efficiency, undermines coastal livelihoods, and limits the translation of national security investments into human and economic security. This study reframes institutional coordination as a governance variable linking security, regulatory enforcement, and coastal community welfare, extending scholarship beyond organizational compliance to tangible development outcomes. Policymakers should harmonize agency mandates, strengthen operational structures, and integrate coastal community engagement to ensure sustainable maritime governance and development outcomes. Keywords: Institutional coordination, maritime governance, coastal communities, Nigeria, operational efficiency

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