Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON (right) with Republic of Guinea’s Minister of Transportation, Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, when Oyetola arrived Conakry for the 3rd Bureau of Ministers Meeting of the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for the West and Central African Region (Abuja MoU), on Thursday.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to enhancing maritime safety, environmental protection, and regional collaboration under the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (Abuja MoU) on Port State Control.
Speaking at the 3rd Bureau of Ministers Meeting of the Abuja MoU held in Conakry, Republic of Guinea, Oyetola emphasised Nigeria’s resolve to align its maritime governance with international standards while championing the shared interests of West and Central Africa in global shipping.
He commended the Government and people of Guinea for their warm hospitality and successful hosting of the 15th Port State Control Committee Meeting, which concluded just a day prior. He acknowledged that the technical deliberations at the committee meeting had yielded valuable insights into the current challenges and opportunities in regional port state control.
L-R: Secretary-General, Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for the West and Central African Region (Abuja MoU), Captain Sunday Umoren; Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON (right) and Republic of Guinea’s Minister of Transportation, Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, at the 3rd Bureau of Ministers Meeting of the Abuja MoU in Conakry, Guinea, on Friday.
Oyetola highlighted concrete measures Nigeria has taken to strengthen its maritime administration, including the enforcement of port state control regulations and the proactive removal of substandard vessels from its territorial waters.
A key milestone shared during his address was the recent approval of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy by Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council. He described the policy as a strategic framework designed to promote safer, cleaner, and more sustainable maritime activities, fully aligned with international best practices and the ideals of the Abuja MoU.
“This policy underscores our determination to build a resilient blue economy that balances economic growth with ocean health, job creation, and maritime security”, the Minister stated.
Calling on fellow Abuja MoU member states, Oyetola urged stronger enforcement of port state control measures and greater institutional support for the Secretariat. He cautioned against allowing the region to become a dumping ground for substandard vessels, noting the serious risks posed to lives, property, and the environment from poor compliance.
He further emphasised that effective port state control is essential to unlocking the region’s full blue economy potential, especially given the high number of foreign-flagged vessels calling at West and Central African ports.
Oyetola also noted that the Bureau of Ministers would formally review and endorse the conclusions of the 15th Port State Control Committee Meeting, ensuring officers are empowered to carry out their duties efficiently. He reaffirmed that the Abuja MoU should remain a driving force for safer shipping, higher compliance standards, and deeper technical cooperation.
He pledged Nigeria’s continued readiness to share expertise and collaborate on regional efforts to strengthen port state control.
The Minister further called on all member states to fulfill their financial commitments to the Secretariat and actively support its programmes, emphasising that these contributions are vital to sustaining operational efficiency and coordinating regional initiatives.
As part of Nigeria’s wider maritime diplomacy, Oyetola also used the platform to rally support for Nigeria’s candidature in the upcoming International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council elections under Category C.
He stated that Nigeria’s election to the Council would bolster the implementation of the Abuja MoU and ensure Africa’s maritime priorities are represented on the global stage.