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By Daniel Adaji
Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has vowed to lead a strong regional front against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
This is following his election as Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC).
The election took place on Thursday during the 16th Conference of Ministers of the FCWC, hosted by Nigeria at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.
The meeting, themed “Securing Our Ocean Future: People, Resources, and Commitments,” brought together Ministers and senior officials from Member States: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo, along with regional institutions, international partners, and maritime experts.
In his acceptance speech, Oyetola expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to strengthen cooperation among FCWC countries to curb illegal fishing, which he described as a major threat to marine sustainability and regional stability.
“Together, we must put an end to the scourge of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in our waters. This menace robs our nations of economic opportunities, threatens our food security, and undermines the livelihoods of millions who depend on the sea. Under my chairmanship, I will work collaboratively with all Member States to ensure stronger enforcement, better data sharing, and improved governance of our shared marine resources,” he said.
He assured delegates that his leadership would focus on regional cooperation, transparency, and capacity building to enhance collective ocean management within the West Central Gulf of Guinea. According to him, effective ocean governance requires political will, coordinated enforcement, and lasting partnerships across borders.
While welcoming delegates on behalf of President Bola Tinubu and the Government of Nigeria, Oyetola reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the FCWC and to the development of the blue economy as a vital pillar of national growth.
“Our sub-region is richly endowed with marine resources that support livelihoods, food security, trade, and cultural identity for millions of our people,” he said.
“Yet these resources face growing pressures from IUU fishing, maritime insecurity, pollution, and the far-reaching impacts of climate change. These are challenges that no nation can overcome in isolation; they demand sustained regional collaboration, political will, and shared responsibility,”.the minister added.
He urged FCWC Member States to strengthen joint patrols, harmonise regulations, and adopt real-time intelligence sharing for more effective maritime enforcement.
“At the regional level, cooperation remains our greatest strength. The outcomes of this conference must translate into actionable measures that strengthen ocean security, enhance economic opportunities, and safeguard the prosperity of future generations,” he noted.
The conference also featured technical sessions where delegates from Member States and development partners reviewed progress reports and discussed new initiatives to improve regional fisheries governance.