Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola has visited Ghana where he met with the Ghanaian Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Emelia Arthur.
The meeting of the two Ministers which took place in the Ghanaian capital, Accra was meant to strengthen bilateral cooperation on fisheries governance, sustainable fisheries management and the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The visit also provided an opportunity for Oyetola who is the President of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), to engage with the FCWC Secretariat and the Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Centre in Tema, Ghana, as part of efforts to advance regional co-operation during Nigeria’s chairmanship of the Committee.
During the meeting with his Ghanaian counterpart, Oyetola emphasised the need for stronger coordination between Nigeria and Ghana in tackling IUU fishing, describing the menace as a shared concern with serious implications for food security, government revenue and the livelihoods of fishing communities.
He noted that effective co-operation between the two countries would strengthen the wider regional response to illegal fishing and contribute to the sustainable management of shared fisheries resources.
These were contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister, Dr. Bolaji Akinola and made available to Maritime Bits.
Oyetola also used the visit to highlight Nigeria’s pilot implementation of the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels as a practical platform for enhanced co-operation with Ghana, particularly in verifying vessel authorisations and exchanging relevant information through the FCWC framework.
According to Oyetola, technical teams from both countries could work together to identify discrepancies in vessel authorisation records and establish agreed procedures for resolving them, thereby improving transparency, compliance and fisheries monitoring across the sub-region.
His words: “Our shared interest is to protect fisheries resources, expand sustainable production and strengthen the livelihoods of our people. Nigeria remains committed to working with Ghana towards these objectives.”
Arthur in her remarks, commended Nigeria for its efforts in combating piracy and for the significant strides recorded in the Marine and Blue Economy sector.
She reaffirmed that the fight against IUU fishing remains a priority for Ghana and pledged her country’s full cooperation with Nigeria in addressing the challenge.
The Ghanaian Minister also disclosed that Ghana had developed its own Marine and Blue Economy policy and sought Nigeria’s support in sharing knowledge and experience, noting Nigeria’s pioneering position in developing such a policy framework.
The request underscores the importance of knowledge-sharing and policy collaboration between both countries as they pursue sustainable ocean governance, improved fisheries management and the development of their respective blue economy sectors.
As part of his engagements in Ghana, Oyetola also visited the FCWC Secretariat in Tema, where he met with the Secretary-General, Dr. Antoine Djihinto and other staff members of the Secretariat.
Oyetola commended the Secretariat for the achievements recorded over the past year and reiterated his commitment to working closely with other FCWC member states to strengthen regional fisheries governance and eliminate IUU fishing in the West Central Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
He stressed the importance of sustained collaboration among member countries, noting that coordinated monitoring, control and surveillance, improved information-sharing and effective implementation of regional initiatives are essential to protecting fisheries resources and ensuring their long-term sustainability.
The FCWC brings together six member countries namely Republic of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo. It provides a framework for regional co-operation in fisheries management, maritime security and the promotion of sustainable fisheries practices across the West Central GoG.
According to the statement, Oyetola’s engagements in Ghana reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to deepening regional partnerships, strengthening fisheries monitoring and enforcement, and advancing a sustainable marine and blue economy that supports food security, economic growth and the livelihoods of coastal communities across the sub-region.
