Nigeria has urged the international community to fast-track the ratification of a landmark ocean treaty and to allocate greater financial resources toward the global blue economy, as the United Nations Ocean Conference continues in France.
Delivering Nigeria’s national address on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, called for “urgent collective efforts” to reverse the decline in ocean health and to guarantee a sustainable future for coastal communities worldwide.
Oyetola spotlighted Nigeria’s support for key global frameworks, including Sustainable Development Goal 14, the AU’s Agenda 2063, and the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity targets. He revealed that Nigeria had formally signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and had already launched the domestic process for its ratification.
He stressed that protecting at least 30 per cent of ocean territory as Marine Protected Areas by 2030 is a global priority that demands rigorous oversight, enforcement, and funding.
“The ocean is central to our economic stability, food systems, and employment,” he stated, highlighting the vital role of marine ecosystems in national and regional development.
Nigeria’s ocean-focused reforms include the National Blue Economy Policy, a new framework to guide BBNJ implementation, updates to the country’s biodiversity strategy, and a regulatory plan to reduce marine plastic waste.
The country is also undertaking hydrographic surveys to enhance maritime navigation and safety, Oyetola said.
In a show of regional leadership, Nigeria has proposed the creation of a High Seas Marine Protected Area in the ecologically significant Canary and Guinea Currents Convergence Zone.
The minister also addressed the ongoing threats of illegal, unregulated fishing, and marine waste dumping, urging for stronger cooperation to improve data gathering, surveillance technology, and training across West Africa and beyond.
