Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC). His election was announced on Thursday at the 16th Conference of Ministers of the FCWC, held in Lagos.
The regional meeting, which had as its theme “Securing Our Ocean Future: People, Resources, and Commitments,” drew participation from Ministers and senior officials of FCWC member countries — Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo — as well as representatives of regional institutions, international partners, and maritime experts.
In his acceptance speech, Oyetola expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in him by his peers, promising to consolidate the achievements of his predecessors while driving renewed regional collaboration to tackle the persistent threat of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Together, we must put an end to the scourge of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in our waters,” Oyetola said. “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.”
The minister noted that his tenure would be defined by regional cooperation, transparency, and capacity building, stressing that effective ocean governance requires sustained political will, coordinated enforcement, and cross-border partnerships.
The conference, which preceded a series of technical sessions involving delegates from FCWC member nations and development partners, reviewed progress reports and new initiatives for regional fisheries governance, capacity building, and marine ecosystem protection.
The outgoing FCWC chairman and Acting Director-General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority of Liberia, in his parting remarks, commended Oyetola’s leadership qualities and expressed optimism that the new chairmanship would consolidate regional unity and accelerate implementation of key resolutions.
The FCWC, established in 2007, serves as a regional platform promoting sustainable fisheries management, combating IUU fishing, and enhancing cooperation among member states within the West Central Gulf of Guinea — a region critical to Africa’s marine biodiversity and food security.
