Ambassador of France to Nigeria, His Excellency Marc Fonbaustier (left) and the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, when the Ambassador visited the Minister in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Wednesday received the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, in Abuja, as part of Nigeria’s strategic push for a seat in Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council.
The high-level diplomatic engagement highlighted growing maritime cooperation between both countries and came ahead of Nigeria’s participation in the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) and World Oceans Day celebration, which will take place in Nice, France, from June 8 to 13, 2025.
Ambassador Fonbaustier, accompanied by the Political Counsellor at the French Embassy, Ms. Alice Ellenbogen, was hosted at the Minister’s office to discuss shared ocean governance priorities and Nigeria’s role in the upcoming global ocean dialogue. Minister Oyetola will lead the Nigerian delegation to the UNOC3 on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
During the meeting, Oyetola made a strong pitch for France’s support for Nigeria’s IMO Council bid, stressing the country’s strategic maritime leadership in West and Central Africa and its role as a key gateway to the Gulf of Guinea. He said Nigeria’s inclusion in Category C would further enhance its longstanding contributions to international maritime regulation, ocean sustainability, and regional maritime security.
He pointed to recent national milestones, including the Federal Executive Council’s approval of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy. The policy, he noted, offers a structured framework to harness Nigeria’s vast marine resources sustainably, create jobs, boost economic growth, and advance environmental protection. It also aligns with the global ocean agenda and supports Sustainable Development Goal 14 on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources.
The Minister also spoke on Nigeria’s success in tackling maritime insecurity, particularly piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea. He credited this progress to initiatives like the Deep Blue Project and strengthened inter-agency collaboration, which have significantly reduced security threats and created safer waterways for international trade.
L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola; Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON; Political Counsellor at the Embassy of France in Nigeria, Ms. Alice Ellenbogen and the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, His Excellency Marc Fonbaustier, when the Ambassador visited Oyetola in Abuja on Wednesday.
Both parties also exchanged views on Nigeria’s expected participation in the upcoming UNOC3, which will be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. Themed “Accelerating Action and Mobilizing All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean,” the conference is set to galvanize science-based solutions and secure financing commitments for the sustainable management of the world’s marine ecosystems.
Minister Oyetola reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the conference and to global partnerships that promote ocean health, maritime innovation, and the blue economy. He thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to represent the country at the international forum.
In his remarks, Ambassador Fonbaustier commended Nigeria’s efforts and expressed France’s enthusiasm for deeper collaboration in marine sustainability and security. He welcomed Nigeria’s active engagement at UNOC3 and applauded President Tinubu’s decision to appoint Oyetola as head of the country’s delegation.
The meeting marks a significant stride in Nigeria’s maritime diplomacy and reinforces the value of international cooperation in safeguarding the world’s oceans.
