The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called for enhanced collaboration between Nigeria and the European Union (EU) to combat illegal fishing, trafficking, and environmental crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the EU Evaluation Mission on the Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network (GoGIN II) Project, Oyetola stressed that evolving maritime threats in the region demand a more coordinated, sustained, and integrated international response.
The EU delegation, led by Stéphanie Vergniault, is in Nigeria to conduct an independent assessment of the EU-funded initiative aimed at strengthening maritime coordination and information sharing across the Gulf of Guinea.
Oyetola reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security, describing it as a critical platform for regional cooperation, intelligence exchange, and collective response. He noted that EU-backed programmes such as GoGIN II have significantly reinforced the framework by improving maritime domain awareness and fostering closer collaboration among national and regional institutions.
The minister highlighted the role of the YARIS information-sharing system in boosting coordination among maritime stakeholders, while calling for improved interoperability between regional centres and national agencies, as well as sustained capacity building and technical support.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project as a key success story, noting that it has contributed to a marked decline in piracy and armed robbery at sea in recent years. According to him, the achievement underscores the importance of combining national efforts with regional and international support.
With the GoGIN II programme approaching completion, Oyetola urged stakeholders to consolidate its gains and ensure long-term sustainability through stronger regional ownership. He emphasised that preserving these achievements is vital to securing the maritime domain and supporting economic activities across the Gulf of Guinea.
Earlier, Vergniault said the evaluation mission is focused on assessing the programme’s effectiveness, operational outcomes, and sustainability, while drawing lessons to inform future maritime security initiatives. She added that the team, which includes Captain Alioune Diop, is engaging key stakeholders to gather feedback on the YARIS platform, coordination under the Yaoundé framework, and ongoing maritime challenges in the region.
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