Nigeria will host the 16th Session of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) Member States later this year, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has announced.
Oyetola disclosed this while receiving the Chairman and Secretary-General of the FCWC on a working visit to his office in Abuja, where he reiterated Nigeria’s firm commitment to safeguarding its marine resources and intensifying the fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing through deeper regional and international partnerships.
The Minister described IUU fishing as a grave threat to marine biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods, warning that it undermines national and global regulations, endangers food security, and places honest fishers at a disadvantage.
“IUU fishing significantly threatens marine ecosystems and biodiversity, jeopardises sustainable fisheries, and exerts enormous pressure on our economy. Nigeria is determined to work closely with our partners to eliminate it,” Oyetola declared.
He expressed confidence that the forthcoming conference would create a platform to consolidate regional action, strengthen fisheries governance, and accelerate the campaign against IUU fishing in the Gulf of Guinea. He assured stakeholders that Nigeria would deliver a world-class event.
During the meeting, Oyetola signed two historic agreements designed to bolster marine governance and enhance seafarers’ welfare. The Monrovia Declaration focuses on enforcing Conservation and Management Measures (CMM), improving transparency, and advancing fisheries governance within the FCWC region. The second, the Protocol on Labour Standards for Crew, introduces stronger safeguards for seafarers, outlaws exploitative practices, and seeks to eradicate forced labour aboard fishing vessels.
Describing the agreements as a major milestone in sustainable resource management, Oyetola underscored Nigeria’s expanding leadership role in marine protection and regional cooperation.
FCWC Chairman, J. Cyrus Saygbe Sr., commended Oyetola’s stewardship and Nigeria’s growing influence in fisheries governance, pledging that the Committee would continue to deepen collaboration with Nigeria to boost monitoring, surveillance, and capacity-building across member states. FCWC Secretary-General, Dr Gaston Djihinto, also praised Nigeria’s leadership of the Committee, stating that the country’s active role would strengthen regional unity and safeguard the Gulf of Guinea’s marine ecosystems.
Established in 2007, the FCWC facilitates cooperation on fisheries management among six member nations: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo. Its mandate includes harmonising fisheries policies, combating IUU fishing, improving surveillance, and promoting sustainable practices to ensure food security and livelihoods throughout the sub-region.
