Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has been elected as the Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC).
The election took place on Thursday in Lagos at the Conference of Ministers of the FCWC, hosted by Nigeria.
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.
Oyetola expressed deep gratitude for the confidence reposed in him by his colleagues and pledged to build on the strong foundation laid by his predecessors.
The Minister, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Bolaji Akinola, underscored his commitment to advancing collective action against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing — a major threat to marine sustainability and regional stability.
He noted: “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.”
Oyetola 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.
He noted that effective ocean governance is a shared responsibility that demands political will, coordinated enforcement, and sustained partnerships across borders.
He said: “Our sub-region is richly endowed with marine resources that support livelihoods, food security, trade, and cultural identity for millions of our people.
“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.”