By Amina Ojelabi
Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has been elected Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), pledging to deepen regional collaboration to eradicate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing across West and Central Africa.
The election took place on Thursday during the 16th Session of the FCWC Conference of Ministers, 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 Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo, alongside representatives of regional bodies, international partners, and maritime experts.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Oyetola expressed gratitude to his peers for their confidence, vowing to consolidate ongoing efforts to strengthen marine governance and sustainability. He reaffirmed his commitment to collective regional action against IUU fishing a persistent challenge undermining economic growth and food security.
“Together, we must put an end to the scourge of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in our waters,” Oyetola declared. “This menace robs our nations of economic opportunities, threatens 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.”
Outgoing Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), Mr Cyrus Saygbe Sr (right) handing over the reigns of office to the newly elected Chairman of FCWC and Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola (CON), during the 16th Conference of Ministers of the FCWC in Lagos.
The Minister noted that his tenure would focus on regional cooperation, transparency, and capacity building to promote sustainable ocean resource management within the West Central Gulf of Guinea.
Delivering Nigeria’s welcome address on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Dr. Oyetola reaffirmed the country’s commitment to advancing the blue economy as a strategic driver for economic diversification and sustainable growth.
“Our sub-region is richly endowed with marine resources that support livelihoods, food security, trade, and cultural identity,” he said. “Yet these resources face growing threats from IUU fishing, maritime insecurity, pollution, and climate change. These challenges demand joint action and shared responsibility.”
He further called for harmonised regulations, enhanced joint patrols, real-time intelligence sharing, and coordinated enforcement mechanisms among FCWC member countries.
“At the regional level, cooperation remains our greatest strength,” Oyetola stressed. “The resolutions from this conference must translate into concrete actions that safeguard our oceans and secure prosperity for future generations.”
The conference also featured technical sessions where delegates and development partners reviewed progress reports and explored new initiatives aimed at improving regional fisheries governance and ocean security.
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