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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎H. E. Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and Chairman, Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, is pushing for stronger regional co-operation and increased investment in the fisheries sector across West and Central Africa.
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‎According to a release by Dr Bolaji Akinola, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Communications, the Minister made the call in Monrovia, Liberia, Monday, while speaking at the National Fisheries Investment Conference, March 30 to 31, 2026. The conference which was declared open by Liberia’s President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai,  was attended by Ministers responsible for fisheries and aquaculture from across the West African subregion.
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‎Describing the gathering as timely, Oyetola said it provided an important platform to unlock opportunities in fisheries and the wider blue economy. “This Conference comes at a critical time for our region,” he said, noting that the sector remains central to food security, employment and economic growth.
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‎According to him, millions of people across West and Central Africa depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods, while fish remains one of the most affordable sources of protein. However, he warned that the sector continues to face serious challenges.
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‎“Despite our rich marine and inland water resources, the sector continues to face significant challenges,” he said, citing declining fish stocks, weak infrastructure, and limited access to finance and modern technology.
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‎Dr. Oyetola emphasised that addressing these challenges requires a clear focus on sustainability, investment and regional collaboration. He stressed that without proper management of marine and inland resources, long-term gains would be impossible.
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‎“Our oceans, rivers, and coastal ecosystems must be carefully managed… without sustainability, long-term benefits cannot be achieved,” he stated.
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‎He said the the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is repositioning fisheries and aquaculture as key drivers of the blue economy. He explained that policies aimed at boosting local production, reducing imports and strengthening regulation are already delivering results, including continued access to international markets for shrimp exports.
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‎He also highlighted broader reforms in Nigeria’s blue economy, including actions to tackle marine pollution, improve port infrastructure and enhance maritime security. According to him, the country’s recent record of zero piracy incidents has helped improve investor confidence in the Gulf of Guinea.
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‎On investment, the minister called for greater funding across the entire fisheries value chain including aquaculture, processing, cold-chain logistics and export development. He noted that with the right policies in place, the sector could generate jobs, particularly for young people, and contribute significantly to economic growth.
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‎He also underscored the importance of regional co-operation, pointing out that fish stocks cut across national boundaries.
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‎“No single country can tackle illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing alone,” he said, adding that stronger collaboration through regional bodies such as the FCWC is essential.
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‎In his role as Chairman of the FCWC Ministerial Committee, Oyetola reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to strengthening joint efforts in fisheries governance. He highlighted ongoing initiatives, including a regional record of fishing vessels, coordinated patrols and information-sharing systems aimed at improving enforcement and sustainability.
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‎The minister further noted that the FCWC is working to harmonise fisheries policies among member states and promote trade within the region, with the goal of improving value chains and attracting investment.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has, once again, reiterated plans to revolutionize the nation’s ports system with the implementation of the National Single Window Project and Ports Modernisation system.
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‎The Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this during an interactive session with maritime journalists in Lagos.
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‎Represented by Mr Ikechukwu Onyemekara, the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of the Agency, the MD said the modernisation project will cover all seaports ports nationwide. However, the project is set to kick off in Lagos ports with a significant investment of $700 million from the Federal Government.
‎He allayed concerns being expressed in some  quarters that the eastern ports are excluded from the 746 million pounds ports modernization deal signed in the UK recently, assuring that the deal would involve ports nationwide on phases. He stated contrary to opinions being canvassed and fears being expressed on the fate of other ports, the case of Apapa and Tincan ports is understandable because ports business is international and the customer decides where his cargoes go. NPA is merely an umpire; the port users’ interests and preferences remain paramount.
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‎The ports modernization process is expected to tackle pressing issues such as port congestion and delays in cargo clearance which have long plagued the sector.
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‎According to Dantsoho,  the NPA is also working to improve logistics, including rail transportation from APMT terminal and alternative cargo transport options.
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‎The NPA is reviewing the Efficiency, Throughput, and Optimization (ETO) initiative put in place to address logistics chain challenges in the country’s port system. The review, Dantsoho assured, would yield a more effective implementation plan with provisions to ensure the ETO works seamlessly.
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‎”When we were doing the dredging, the ports in the East were also carried along,” he said.
‎Government investments are focused on areas with returns on investment which is why Lagos is the starting point.
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‎The NPA MD expressed optimism that the agency’s vision for the ports industry would leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
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‎He urged the media to play a proactive role in monitoring societal developments, emphasizing the importance of a free and vibrant press in driving progress and accountability.
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‎”The media has been advised to be creative and step up its role as watchdog of the society,” he concluded.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎A call has gone out for deeper collaboration with the European Union (EU) to address emerging maritime threats, particularly illegal fishing, trafficking and environmental crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
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‎Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, made the call in Abuja,Thursday, while receiving a delegation from the EU Evaluation Mission on the Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network (GoGIN II) Project. Evolving security challenges in the region, Oyetola emphasized, require a broader, more integrated and sustained response anchored on strong international partnerships.

‎According to a press release by Dr Bolaji Akinola, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Communications, the delegation led by Ms Stéphanie Vergniault, is in Nigeria as part of an independent assessment of the EU-funded initiative, which supports maritime coordination and information sharing across the Gulf of Guinea.
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‎Dr. Oyetola reiterated Nigeria’s firm commitment to the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security, describing it as a vital platform for regional cooperation, collective response and intelligence exchange. He noted that EU-backed interventions such as GoGIN II have played an important role in strengthening this framework, particularly by enhancing maritime domain awareness and facilitating closer collaboration among national and regional agencies.
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‎The Minister acknowledged the impact of the YARIS information-sharing system in improving coordination among maritime stakeholders, while stressing the need to sustain and optimise its operational use. He also highlighted the importance of improving interoperability between regional centres and national institutions, alongside continued capacity building and technical support.
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‎Pointing to Nigeria’s own efforts, the Minister cited the success of the Deep Blue Project, which has contributed to a significant reduction in piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea in recent years. The progress recorded, he said, demonstrates the effectiveness of combining national ownership with regional and international support.
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‎As the GoGIN II programme nears completion, the Minister urged stakeholders to focus on consolidating its achievements and ensuring long-term sustainability through stronger regional ownership mechanisms. He stressed that maintaining the gains recorded would be critical to securing the maritime domain and supporting economic activities across the Gulf of Guinea.
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‎Earlier, Ms Vergniault explained that the evaluation seeks to assess the programme’s performance, operational results and sustainability, while identifying lessons that could shape future maritime security initiatives. She noted that the mission, which also includes Captain Alioune Diop, is engaging key stakeholders in Nigeria to gather operational feedback on the use of the YARIS platform, the programme’s contribution to coordination under the Yaoundé Architecture, and the prevailing challenges in the maritime sector.
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