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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has called for stronger collaboration between Nigeria and the European Union to combat illegal fishing, trafficking and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
Oyetola made the call on Thursday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the EU Evaluation Mission on the Gulf of Guinea Inter-regional Network (GoGIN II) Project. He said the region’s evolving security threats require a more integrated and sustained international response anchored on stronger partnerships.
The EU 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 Gulf of Guinea.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security, describing it as a key platform for regional cooperation and intelligence exchange. He noted that EU-supported programmes such as GoGIN II have strengthened maritime domain awareness and improved collaboration among national and regional agencies.
Oyetola also highlighted the impact of the YARIS information-sharing system in enhancing coordination among maritime stakeholders, while stressing the need to improve interoperability between regional centres and national institutions through sustained capacity building and technical support.
He pointed to the success of Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project, which he said has contributed to a significant reduction in piracy and armed robbery at sea in recent years, noting that the progress demonstrates the effectiveness of combining national initiatives with regional and international support.
As the GoGIN II programme nears completion, the minister urged stakeholders to consolidate its achievements and ensure long-term sustainability through stronger regional ownership.
Earlier, Vergniault said the evaluation mission is assessing the programme’s performance, operational results and sustainability, as well as identifying lessons that will shape future maritime security initiatives in the region.
