Nigeria has taken a leading role in shaping the future of ocean governance in West Africa as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, assumes chairmanship of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC).
This development, was announced on Thursday at the 16th Conference of Ministers held in Lagos,themed “Securing Our Ocean Future: People, Resources, and Commitments”.
The conference which marks a new phase in the region’s drive to strengthen cooperation against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and to promote sustainable management of shared marine resources brought together Ministers and delegates from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo, alongside key regional and international stakeholders, to deliberate on strategies to protect ocean ecosystems and strengthen blue economy partnerships.
Dr. Oyetola pledged to reposition the FCWC as a model of regional solidarity and effective maritime governance.
He emphasised that under his chairmanship, collaboration, transparency, and enforcement would be central to the Committee’s agenda.
“Our region’s progress depends on how well we can protect our ocean resources,” he said. “Illegal fishing is not just an environmental issue it’s an economic, social, and security challenge. Together, we must build a united front to safeguard our waters and secure livelihoods for our people,” he said.
Oyetola noted that Nigeria’s assumption of the chairmanship underscored the administration of President Bola Tinubu’s growing focus on regional integration and the blue economy as a frontier for economic diversification and inclusive growth.
He outlined several priorities for his tenure, including enhanced regional patrols, real-time data exchange, and joint enforcement frameworks to tackle maritime crimes.
Minister Oyetola also called for investments in capacity building and technology-driven monitoring systems to enable smarter, evidence-based decision-making.
“The future of our ocean economy lies in collaboration and innovation. By aligning our policies, sharing intelligence, and building trust, we can unlock the immense potential of the West Central Gulf of Guinea for sustainable growth”, Oyetola stated.
Earlier, while welcoming delegates on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Dr. Oyetola highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing reforms in port modernisation, aquaculture development, and maritime security, noting that the blue economy remained a strategic pillar of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He added that the Lagos conference should serve as a turning point in regional maritime cooperation.
“We must leave here with a shared sense of purpose. Our commitment must go beyond declarations to measurable actions that strengthen governance, enhance livelihoods, and protect the marine environment for generations to come”, he said.
The week-long event featured a series of technical and policy sessions, where experts and development partners reviewed progress on fisheries governance and discussed new initiatives to curb illegal fishing and promote ocean health across the sub-region.
Nigeria’s leadership of the FCWC is expected to invigorate regional efforts toward sustainable fisheries management, maritime security, and the broader economic transformation of the Gulf of Guinea region.
