In a unanimous election, Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has been named the Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC).
The election took place during the 16th Conference of Ministers of the FCWC in Lagos, Nigeria. Oyetola pledged to strengthen regional collaboration to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, emphasising that effective ocean governance requires political will, coordinated enforcement, and shared responsibility.
The conference brought together ministers and senior officials from FCWC member states, including Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo, alongside regional and international partners. Oyetola highlighted the growing threats of IUU fishing, pollution, climate change, and maritime insecurity, which undermine the region’s food systems, economies, and environmental integrity.
Under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria’s marine and blue economy sector is undergoing reforms, including strengthening institutional coordination, enhancing maritime domain awareness, modernising port operations, expanding aquaculture, promoting private sector participation, and building climate-resilient coastal communities.
Oyetola reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to joint regional surveillance patrols, intelligence sharing, and harmonised enforcement mechanisms to tackle IUU fishing, piracy, and transnational crimes across the Gulf of Guinea. He commended the FCWC Secretariat and international development partners for their support in advancing sustainable fisheries management and maritime safety.
FCWC Secretary General, Mr. Gaston Djihinto emphasised the need for continued collaboration among member states and their partners to strengthen the operational capacity of the FCWC Regional Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance Centre.
The outgoing FCWC Chairman, Mr. Cyrus Saygbe, highlighted the urgent need for digital transformation and technology-driven governance in the fisheries sector.