Oyetola Pledges to End Illegal Fishing as He Takes Helm of FCWC Ministers’ Conference
ZAINAB JUNAID
Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has promised to drive regional cooperation to end illegal fishing as he emerged the Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC).
Following a successful election which took place at the 16th Conference of Ministers of the FCWC on Thursday, 13 November 2025, hosted by Nigeria in Lagos, Honourable Oyetola expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in him by his colleagues and pledged to leverage on his predecessors’ structure.
In a statement signed by Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister, Dr. Oyetola pushed for collective action to tackle Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, describing the menace as a major threat to marine sustainability and regional stability in his acceptance speech.
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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 Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday.
He declared that “Together, we must put an end to the scourge of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in our waters. This menace robs our nations of economic opportunities, threatens our 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.”
The Minister emphasised that his tenure would prioritise regional cooperation, transparency, and capacity building as tools to strengthen the collective management of ocean resources within the West Central Gulf of Guinea.
Benin Republic’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Gaston Dossouhoui; Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola (CON) and former Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), Mr Cyrus Saygbe Sr, at the 16th Conference of Ministers of the FCWC in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday.
He noted that effective ocean governance is a shared responsibility that demands political will, coordinated enforcement, and sustained partnerships across borders.
Earlier in his keynote address to the Conference, Dr Oyetola had welcomed delegates on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong commitment to the FCWC and highlighted the growing importance of the blue economy in national development.
“Our sub-region is richly endowed with marine resources that support livelihoods, food security, trade, and cultural identity for millions of our people,” he said. “Yet these resources face growing pressures from IUU fishing, maritime insecurity, pollution, and the far-reaching impacts of climate change. These are challenges that no nation can overcome in isolation; they demand sustained regional collaboration, political will, and shared responsibility.”
Dr Oyetola noted that the Tinubu administration acknowledged the marine and blue economy as a strategic frontier for economic diversification and transformation.
He said Nigeria’s ongoing reforms in port modernisation, maritime security, aquaculture expansion, and institutional coordination aimed at fostering sustainable growth.
He further called for strengthened joint patrols, harmonised regulations, real-time intelligence sharing, and coordinated enforcement mechanisms among FCWC Member States.
“At the regional level, cooperation remains our greatest strength,” he stressed. “The outcomes of this conference must translate into actionable measures that strengthen ocean security, enhance economic opportunities, and safeguard the prosperity of future generations.”
The high-level regional meeting, held under the theme “Securing Our Ocean Future: People, Resources, and Commitments,” brought together Ministers and senior officials from FCWC Member States including Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo, alongside representatives of regional institutions, international partners, and maritime experts.
The Conference of Ministers was preceded by a series of technical sessions attended by delegates from FCWC Member States and development partners, during which progress reports and new initiatives for regional fisheries governance were deliberated.