Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has been elected 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 FCWC Conference of Ministers held in Lagos, themed “Securing Our Ocean Future: People, Resources, and Commitments.”
The regional meeting brought together ministers and officials from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo, as well as representatives of international partners and maritime experts.
In his acceptance speech, Oyetola pledged to strengthen regional collaboration to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which he described as a major threat to food security and economic stability in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Together, we must end the scourge of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. It robs our nations of economic opportunities and threatens the livelihoods of millions who depend on the sea,” he said.
Oyetola emphasised that his tenure would focus on transparency, capacity-building, and coordinated enforcement among member states to promote sustainable ocean governance.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the FCWC and noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration views the blue economy as a strategic sector for economic diversification and growth.
The minister also called for joint patrols, harmonised regulations, and real-time intelligence sharing among member nations to secure shared waters and boost the regional maritime economy.
The conference concluded with resolutions to enhance cooperation and translate commitments into practical actions for sustainable fisheries management across West Africa.
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