Nigeria’s marine and blue economy agenda has received regional backing, as the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) has appointed the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, to lead the development of a common policy framework for its nine member states.
GGC’s Deputy Executive Secretary, Ambassador Obinna Agbugba, disclosed this on Tuesday during a meeting with Oyetola in Abuja.
The decision followed Nigeria’s development and approval of its first National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which has become a reference for the proposed regional framework.
The initiative could support coordinated action on maritime security, sustainable ocean governance, investment and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing across the Gulf of Guinea.
Seaking for the Commission’s Executive Secretary, José Mba Abeso, Agbugba commended Oyetola for pioneering Nigeria’s policy and said the country’s experience provided a foundation for the Commission’s regional plans.
He expressed confidence in the minister’s ability to lead the process and thanked him for accepting the assignment.
Oyetola said the initiative offered an opportunity to turn the Gulf of Guinea’s shared maritime resources into a platform for economic cooperation.
“Nigeria remains fully committed to the ideals of regional cooperation, sustainable ocean governance and the shared prosperity of the Gulf of Guinea,” the minister said.
He said the Commission formally requested his leadership in a letter dated May 7, 2026. In response, the ministry formed a multi-stakeholder committee comprising all its technical departments and the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics.
The committee produced two documents: a draft Strategic Plan for the Development and Operationalisation of a Gulf of Guinea Commission Policy on Marine and Blue Economy (2026–2030), and a draft Policy Framework and Strategy Template.
According to Oyetola, the documents outline strategic priorities, objectives, actions, performance indicators, implementation timelines, lead agencies and funding considerations.
They were developed with reference to the 2025 Yaoundé Declaration and the work of the United Nations Task Force supporting the GGC’s 2026 Work Plan.
Oyetola presented the documents to Agbugba for consideration by the Commission.
He also proposed a Steering Committee to oversee the process and coordinate consultations among member states and other stakeholders, with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy serving as its secretariat.
The minister stressed the need for inclusive consultations involving member states, relevant institutions and stakeholders to ensure regional ownership.
He also called for clear timelines and responsibilities for reviewing the drafts and establishing the committee.
The framework is expected to provide the nine-member Commission with a common strategic direction on marine resources, strengthen maritime security cooperation and expand blue economy investment.
Oyetola said it would also help member states address shared maritime challenges and combat IUU fishing.
The Gulf of Guinea Commission was established on July 3, 2001, with headquarters in Luanda, Angola. Its members are Angola, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
