Oyetola Seeks EU Pact to Tackle Gulf of Guinea Maritime Threats
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has called for deeper collaboration with the European Union to tackle emerging maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea, including illegal fishing, trafficking, and environmental crimes.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday while receiving a delegation from the EU Evaluation Mission on the Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network (GoGIN II) Project, Oyetola stressed that evolving security challenges demand a broader, integrated, and sustained response anchored on strong international partnerships.
The delegation, led by Ms. Stéphanie Vergniault, is in Nigeria to conduct an independent assessment of the EU-funded initiative, which supports maritime coordination and information-sharing across the region.
Oyetola reaffirmed Nigeria’s 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 strengthened this framework by enhancing maritime domain awareness and fostering closer collaboration among national and regional agencies.
He praised the YARIS information-sharing system for improving coordination among stakeholders, while emphasizing the need to sustain and optimize its operational use. The Minister also highlighted the importance of interoperability between regional centres and national institutions, alongside continued capacity building and technical support.
Pointing to Nigeria’s own efforts, Oyetola cited the Deep Blue Project, which has significantly reduced piracy and armed robbery at sea in recent years. He said the progress demonstrates the effectiveness of combining national ownership with regional and international support.
As GoGIN II nears completion, Oyetola urged stakeholders to consolidate its achievements and ensure long-term sustainability through stronger regional ownership mechanisms. He stressed that maintaining these gains is critical to securing the maritime domain and supporting economic activities across the Gulf of Guinea.
Earlier, Ms. Vergniault explained that the evaluation seeks to assess the programme’s performance, operational results, and sustainability, while identifying lessons to shape future maritime security initiatives. She noted that the mission, which also includes Captain Alioune Diop, is engaging key Nigerian stakeholders to gather feedback on the YARIS platform, the programme’s contribution to coordination under the Yaoundé Architecture, and prevailing challenges in the maritime sector
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